Groin hernia repair is surgery to repair weakness in the abdominal wall or groin. The bowel that is pushing through the weak area is pushed back into its normal place.
A groin hernia may need to be repaired with surgery to get rid of symptoms or to avoid complications. For example, after the bowel has pushed through the muscle wall, its contents may become trapped. A dangerous complication is that the blood supply to the bowel may be cut off and the trapped tissue may die, resulting in severe infection.
Two types of surgery may be done:
If your hernia is causing few or no symptoms, you may choose not to have surgery. You may need to use a groin support. Ask your healthcare provider about your choices for treatment.
Plan for your care and recovery after the operation, especially if you are going to have general anesthesia. Ask someone to drive you home after surgery and to help you with your day-to-day needs for a day or two. Allow for time to rest in the days after surgery.
Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about not smoking before and after the procedure. Smokers heal more slowly after surgery. They are also more likely to have breathing problems during surgery. For these reasons, if you are a smoker, you should quit at least 2 weeks before the procedure. It is best to quit 6 to 8 weeks before surgery.
Follow any other instructions your provider gives you. If you are to have general anesthesia, eat a light meal, such as soup or salad, the night before the procedure. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight and the morning before the procedure. Do not even drink coffee, tea, or water.
Make sure your provider knows about all medicines and herbal remedies you are taking. You may need to stop some medicines for a short time before the procedure.
For open surgery, you will be given a regional or general anesthetic. A regional anesthetic is a drug that should keep you from feeling pain from the chest down during the operation even though you are awake. A general anesthetic relaxes your muscles, puts you to sleep, and prevents you from feeling pain during the operation.
The surgeon will make a cut in the lower side of your abdomen, push your intestine back into the abdominal cavity, fix the defect in the abdominal wall, and close the wound. The surgeon may sew a piece of mesh over the weak spot in the abdominal wall, creating a newer, stronger wall.
Open hernia repair has been done for many years. Laparoscopic surgery is a newer procedure that in some cases may be done instead of open surgery. A laparoscope is a thin tube with a light and tiny camera. You will be given a general anesthetic. The surgeon will make a small cut in your abdomen and insert the scope through the cut. Tools to repair the hernia will be inserted through one or more other small cuts. Laparoscopic surgery can be done with smaller cuts in the abdomen and less cutting through the muscle. This shortens the recovery time and lessens pain during recovery.
You may be able to go home later on the day of the operation. In some cases you may need to stay at the hospital for 1 to 3 days, depending on the kind of surgery you had and how well the repair heals.
Ask your healthcare provider how you should take care of yourself right after surgery and over the next couple of weeks. Ask when you should come back for a checkup.
Don’t do anything strenuous for the next 6 to 8 weeks. For example, avoid lifting anything heavy, and try to avoid straining when you cough or go to the bathroom.
You no longer have the discomfort of a hernia or the risk of trapped intestine.
You should ask your provider how these risks apply to you. Also ask how likely it is that you will have complications if you choose not to have the surgery.
Call your provider right away if:
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