Inguinal hernia surgery – classical or laparoscopic

Inguinal hernia is a condition of the abdominal wall where a part of the contents of the abdominal cavity, most often the intestinal loops, pass through the weakened area of the abdominal wall in the inguinal area into the subcutaneous tissue. The hernia is formed by a hernia sac consisting of the peritoneum and the hernia content (most often the intestinal loops).

Procedure indication

The treatment is surgical. If left untreated, there is a high risk of its further enlargement, but the most feared complication is possible incarceration of the hernia, which is an acute and life-threatening condition.

Form of intervention

The procedure is performed during hospitalisation, which takes about 2-4 days. The actual procedure is performed under general anaesthesia.

Method and course of procedure

Laparoscopic surgery to close the inguinal hernia requires minimal cuts with a camera and special tools. A special needle is first used to fill the abdominal cavity with gas (carbon dioxide), and then several short cuts in the abdominal wall are used to introduce so-called trocars (usually a metal or plastic tube with a non-return valve, which prevents gas leakage from the inflated abdomen). These are then used to introduce a tubus with optics, which transmits the image to a monitor and other special laparoscopic instruments. The number, sizes and distributions of these trocars is determined by the range of surgical procedure. After the peritoneum is pulled to the site of the abdominal wall defect, a special synthetic mesh is inserted under it, which is attached using several metal clamps, thus mechanically preventing the formation of a hernia in the future.

Postoperative course and recommendations

The laparoscopic method enables the patient to fully load the abdomen a few weeks after the procedure. This procedure also has a very small risk of hernia recurrence. The recovery time is 3 weeks on average.

Method of payment

The procedure is fully covered by health insurance.

This procedure is only performed at our facility by some plastic surgeons, more information will be provided by the plastic surgery outpatient office.