PATIENT INFORMATION

Hernia Treatment

Procedure Instructions

Before Surgery
  • Your doctor may ask you to have blood tests, an EKG (electrocardiogram), and a chest X-ray to prepare for surgery.
  • Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking, including vitamins, supplements, and blood thinners.
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
  • Make sure that you have someone to give you a ride home from the hospital.
During Surgery

Hernia repair may be done with an open incision or laparascopically. Either way, you will receive general anesthesia. A nurse will place an IV in your arm, and the surgical site may be shaved. Many hernia repairs are done on an outpatient basis and you go home after you have recovered from the anesthetic.

With an open repair, the surgeon creates an incision where the weakened area is located. The hernia is “reduced” by pushing the protruding tissue back into the abdomen. In most cases, the surgeon uses a special mesh to cover and repair the weak area, like a patch, and secures it to nearby tissue with suture. Over time, the nearby tissues and scar tissue grow into the mesh to strengthen the repair. Some small hernias do not require mesh. The surgeon tightens the muscle tissue surrounding the weak area to repair the wall defect.

Laparoscopic hernia repair is done in a similar fashion but with a tiny scope inserted so the surgeon can watch the surgery on a video monitor. Several small incisions are made in the abdomen and it is filled with carbon dioxide gas to provide space for the surgeon to see and work. A camera and small surgical instruments are inserted through the incisions. At the end of the surgery, most of the carbon dioxide gas is removed. Recovery from laparoscopic surgery is often faster than from an open repair.

When the surgery is over, you will be taken to the recovery area where a nurse will monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, and pain. Make sure that you have someone to drive you home and stay with you during the first 24 hours following surgery.

Caring for Yourself after Surgery

With a large ventral hernia, you may be admitted to the hospital for a few days to monitor pain and your diet for the first few days. A large hernia repair may cause a postoperative ileus. This is a temporary paralysis of a portion of the intestines preventing food or drinks from moving forward. It is important for you to slowly start your diet to prevent complications.

Risks and Possible Complications of Surgery

Although complications are rare, it is important to be aware of the risks and complications before any surgical procedure. Those risks and complications for herniorrhaphy include: bleeding, infection, injury to bowel or bladder, urinary retention (inability to urinate), numbness or pain in the groin or leg (from damage to nerves in the operative area), risks from anesthesia, and blood clots.

Also, while every attempt is made to minimize a recurrence of a hernia, the “perfect” repair does not exist, and sometimes hernias reappear. However, the recurrence rate over many years is small, as low as 1 to 5 percent. The smoother your recovery, the better the chances that your hernia will not recur.

Recovering at Home

Diet: You will start with a liquid diet and progress to a soft and regular diet as tolerable. You’ll be advised about diet by our staff at time of surgery depending on your individual needs.

Activity/Work: The day of surgery you should relax and control your pain by taking the pain medications prescribed by your doctor. Get up and walk to speed your recovery and prevent blood clots. You will be able to do most activities of daily living without difficulties. Continue to take it easy for the first 2 to 3 days after surgery. You can then resume normal activities, but avoid strenuous activities and do not lift more than 5 to 10 pounds for at least 3 weeks or more following your surgery, as directed by your surgeon.

Pain: As with any operation, the amount of pain you will experience varies from patient to patient. Right shoulder pain is common after laparoscopic surgery, and you may experience abdominal pain from the gas used to inflate your belly until it is reabsorbed. Be sure to stay ahead of the pain and take your pain medication as prescribed by your doctor. You may add Advil (Ibuprofen) to your pain medication if you do not have any allergies or contraindications for taking it, such as gastric ulcers, gastric reflux, kidney disease or allergy to ibuprofen.

Incision care: Your incision will be covered with a steri-strip or piece of tape. This should be left on until you are seen in the office or it falls off on its own. You can shower, but do not soap the area. Pat it dry. Do not soak in a bath, hot tub, or swimming pool for at least 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. You may see a little dried blood through the bandage. This is normal and the bandage doesn’t need to be changed. If a little drainage comes from the incision, tape gauze over top of the incision and hold pressure. If the drainage continues over 3 to 4 hours or there is a lot of drainage, call your doctor. Signs of infection include increasing redness past the incision, pus-like drainage, or increasing pain. A fever over 101.5 and flu-like symptoms should not be ignored. Call your doctor if these occur.

Swelling: A little redness or swelling around the incision is normal. To help reduce the swelling, place an ice pack wrapped in a towel on the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes 3 to 5 times per day. You can also use ibuprofen to help with the swelling, but do not use ibuprofen if you have a history of gastric ulcers, gastric reflux, kidney disease, or allergy to ibuprofen. Men who have had an inguinal hernia repair may find their scrotum is swollen and turn black and blue. This is normal and may worsen after a few days. To help reduce swelling, use ice packs and wear supportive underwear such as briefs. The scrotum will return to normal in a few weeks.

Constipation: Constipation is very common following a surgery. The anesthetic used during the operation paralyzes the bowel, which can lead to constipation for up to a week. Pain medications such as vicodin or percocet also cause the bowel to move more slowly. You may try over-the-counter medications such as milk of magnesia, Colace, or Metamucil, as well as prune or apple juice to get your bowels moving.

Shower: You can shower 24 – 48 hours after surgery, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. There will be sterile tape (called a “steri-strip”) over the incision. Leave the tape on while showering. Do not soak in a bath or hot tub. Sometimes aninsiciion is stapled andyou won’t have steri-strip. In this case you can shower with a bandage. Be sure to dry the area well after your shower.

Driving: Anyone who has had a hernia repair should not drive until they feel confident about performing an emergency stop without discomfort, usually a week after surgery. Do not drive while taking pain medications. It is considered driving “under the influence” and is dangerous.  

 

When to Call the Doctor
  • Fever over 101.5 degrees.
  • Increased redness or drainage from an incision.
  • Change in skin color/jaundice.
  • Pain or swelling in your calf.
  • Difficulty breathing.
When to Go the Emergency Room
  • Uncontrolled bleeding from an incision.
  • Persistent vomiting.
  • Change in mental status.
  • Inability to breathe.