Inguinal Hernia
Inguinal hernia is one of the most common abdominal wall defects causing hernia at the groin level. Inguinal hernia can bulge and can include fat and intestines in their bulged contents.
If they go freely inside on pressure/pushing, then they are called reducible hernia. Occasionally they get stuck and does not go in and also cause pain which is called incarcerated hernias.
The worst scenario is when the inlet passage is narrowed due to bulky contents or swelling causing strangulation of the fat or bowel called strangulated hernia. This is an emergency and requires very urgent operation. Some of these progression occurs due to ignoring when the hernia is small, deposition of body fat and also lifting heavy weights as a profession (such as body builders, and construction workers).The problematic hernias are best operated when the problem arises.
There are many ways these hernias are managed:
1)Old and frail people are managed with hernial belts and conservatively,
2) Laparoscopic repair,
3) Open repair with mesh and
4) Shouldise and tissue augmented repairs. This is usually considered the gold standard of hernia repair
Preparation
The procedure would be done under local anaesthetic and you should be prepared for minor pain while injecting. You will sometimes feel the pulling of the tissues.
Some patients would like to have minimal feeling/anxiety during the procedure in which case you would be given some mild sedation.
Procedure
The operation would take about 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the complexity and the repair required.
The pubic region will be shaved, the inguinal hernia marked and local anaesthetic given using long needle to reach the depths of the region having hernia.
The hernial tunnel runs obliquly following the groin crease line, usually 2-3cms above the crease. The injection is slightly uncomfortable and you should not feel any pain after this.
Direct hernias are usually repaired using classic Shouldice technique of double layer closure (shown in picture).
Indirect hernias are closed with a variety of techniques including McEvady’s and Shouldice technique. No mesh is usually used and your own healthy tissue is used to reconstruct/repair the hernial defects.
Usually a 1-0 Prolene /Nylon stitch is used for majority of the repairs. Dissolving stitches are then used for closure of the upper most layers of the fat and the skin.
Complications
Some of the complications that you must be aware of are infection, bleeding, hematoma, bruise and swelling in the scrotal sac. Numbness at the groin area. Very rarely chronic pain and recurrence of the hernia. Very rarely damage to the vessels supplying the testicle.
Pricing
The price of umbilical hernia repair is $2,700 and if insertion of drain is required, the price would be $3,000.
Please contact reception or schedule an appointment with either Dr Satya or Nurse Edlyn/Elina for further information.