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The Advantage Of Laparoscopic Hernia Repair
Doctors believe many people avoid or put off receiving treatment due to fears of a lengthy and painful recovery period. However, a fairly new procedure known as laparoscopic repair is slowly erasing the painful stigma associated with traditional hernia surgery. What is a Hernia? The most common hernia is an inguinal hernia. This type of hernia occurs when part of the intestine slips through a weakened or torn section of the inner abdominal layer, forming a balloon-like sac. Most hernias create a bulge visible in the groin, abdominal or scrotum area, often causing pain or discomfort when coughing or performing activities such as lifting heavy objects. More severe symptoms like sharp abdominal pain or vomiting could mean the intestine is experiencing strangulation and should receive medical attention. Treatment options In traditional hernia surgery known as open repair, a small incision is made in the skin near the hernia. The surgeon then proceeds to close the hernia, using stitches or mesh to sew together the walls. Most patients are able to go home a few hours following surgery and resume their normal daily routine within a few days. Strenuous activity and exercise is prohibited for up to six weeks to ensure the patient's abdominal walls heal properly. Hernia recurrence rates in patients receiving open repair surgery is roughly one percent. Laparoscopic surgery is performed using a small telescope-like instrument called an endoscope, which is inserted through the belly button via incision. The endoscope features a tiny video camera, which allows surgeons to perform the hernia operation using a television screen to view the patient's body in real time. The surgery is conducted by attaching a mesh patch to the weak area of the abdominal wall, which is then closed using staples or sutures. Advantages of laparoscopic Repair Because of less surgical intrusion to the body, laparoscopic repairs leave less noticeable scars on the body. Patients receiving laparoscopic surgery also report less postoperative pain. In addition to wound infection, tingling and numbness in the groin and scrotum area is reported less in laparoscopic patients compared to open repair. Older men tend to be treated using the open repair method, as studies show a higher recurrence of hernias in their age group with laparoscopic surgery. Typically however, patients experiencing hernia recurrence are recommended to receive laparoscopic repair to avoid further scar tissue build-up in the previous surgery site. Several studies argue laparoscopic surgery is a more costly and lengthy procedure compared to traditional hernia inguinal repair. But being able to avoid the painful, drawn-out recovery period associated with traditional hernia surgery gives laparoscopic repair the distinctive advantage. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Dr. Kevin Huguet, MD, of Bay Surgical Specialists , is the author of this article about hernia operation, hernia surgery , laparoscopic surgery and hernia inguinal repair. |
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