Hernia

The goal of surgery is to repair the weak tissue in your abdominal wall so that intestine and other tissue can't push through it again. Generally, the earlier the repair, the smaller the hernia, and the less trauma from surgery. Typically, a more rapid recovery is experienced with smaller hernias. Therefore, it may be beneficial to seek medical attention sooner rather than later.

Once your hernia has been successfully repaired and you have recovered from surgery, you will be able to return to your regular activities.

Click on a link below to review your surgical options:
Ventral (Abdominal) Hernia Repair Surgery
Inguinal (Groin) Hernia Repair Surgery

Ventral (Abdominal) Hernia Repair Surgery

Depending on the location and severity of your abdominal hernia, as well as your medical history, your doctor will recommend either open or laparoscopic surgery. Within each surgical option there are different hernia repair techniques. The following information will help you understand these hernia repair options.

Open Surgery

• Your doctor makes an incision in your abdomen where the hernia is located.
• Intestine or tissue inside the hernia sac is placed back into the abdominal cavity.

• The hernia is repaired in one of two ways:
  • "Primary repair" - This repair involves sewing the abdominal wall tissues back together with sutures, such as GORE-TEX® Suture.
  • "Patch repair" - A patch, such as GORE DUALMESH® PLUS Biomaterial, is placed so that it covers and overlaps the hernia defect. The patch is then attached. Over time, your body's tissue grows naturally into the patch to help it stay in place and add strength to the repair. GORE DUALMESH® Biomaterials are designed to firmly attach to the tissue of your abdominal wall on one side, but not to intestines and vulnerable tissue on the other side. GORE DUALMESH® PLUS Biomaterial is the first two-surface hernia repair product containing antimicrobial agents that inhibit bacterial growth (called colonization) on the patch for up to 10 days following surgery. This feature may be helpful for patients, since it is reported that infections may be expected in about 10% of open ventral hernia repairs.*
• The skin incision is closed with stitches, staples, surgical tape, or special glue.

  * Klinge U, Conze J, Krones CJ, Schumpelick V. Incisional hernia: open techniques. World Journal of Surgery 2005;29(9):1066-1072.

Laparoscopic Surgery

• Your doctor makes several small incisions (usually three to six) in the abdominal wall surrounding the hernia.
• Your abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas. Surgical instruments and a laparoscope (special camera) are inserted through the incisions into the abdomen.
• Using the surgical instruments, a "patch repair" is performed. (See description in Open Surgery, above)
• The gas is released and the skin incisions are closed.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is typically performed under general anesthesia, and many are same-day procedures. Laparoscopic ventral hernia surgery offers potential benefits such as quicker recovery time, decreased pain, lower infection rate, reduced hernia recurrences, and fewer complications.

Whether you have open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, medical studies have shown that a patch repair is the most effective approach in the majority of ventral hernia cases.

How can you prepare for surgery? See Preparing for surgery.

Inguinal (Groin) Hernia Repair Surgery

Depending on the location and severity of your groin hernia, as well as your medical history, your doctor will recommend either open or laparoscopic surgery. Within each surgical option are different hernia repair techniques. The following information will help you understand these hernia repair options.

Open surgery

• Your doctor makes an incision on the same side as the hernia, at an angle just above the crease where the abdomen meets the thigh.  This can be done with local epidural or general anesthesia.
• Intestine or other tissue inside the hernia sac is placed back into the abdominal cavity. The excess sac may be tied off or removed.
• The hernia is repaired in one of three ways:
  • "Primary repair" - Also known as a "sutured repair", this repair involves sewing the abdominal wall tissues back together with sutures, such as GORE-TEX® Suture.
  • "Patch repair or tension free repair" - A patch, such as GORE MYCROMESH PLUS® Biomaterial, is attached over the weak area around the hernia in front of the muscles. Over time, your body's tissue grows naturally into the patch to make a strong repair.
  • "Plug and patch repair" - A space-filling plug, such as the GORE Bioabsorbable Hernia Plug, is placed inside the inguinal hernia to reinforce and support the weak tissue. A patch is then attached over the area. The GORE Bioabsorbable Hernia Plug is the only hernia plug that is 100% bioabsorbable and is designed to reduce other complications associated with permanent hernia plugs.
• The skin incision is closed with stitches, staples, surgical tape, or special glue.

Laparoscopic surgery

• Your doctor makes several small incisions (usually three to six) in the abdominal wall around the hernia.
• Your abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas, surgical instruments and a laparoscope (special camera) are inserted through the incisions into the abdomen.
• Surgical instruments are inserted through the incisions into the abdomen.
• The hernia is repaired using a "patch repair" technique (See description in Open Surgery, above). In this repair, however, the patch is placed behind the muscles.
• The gas is released and the skin incisions are closed.

Most laparoscopic surgeries are same-day procedures done under general anesthesia. Because only small incisions are required, laparoscopic surgery offers quicker recovery time, decreased pain, reduced recurrence of hernia, and fewer complications.

How can you prepare for surgery? See Preparing for surgery.