Hernia Repair Specialist

What Is a Hernia?

A hernia occurs when an organ protrudes through the wall of the body cavity containing it. There are four common kinds of hernias: congenital, which is when a person is born with the hernia; inguinal, which is typically found in the groin area; umbilical, which is found near the belly button; and incisional, which occurs near previous surgical incisions. Hernias of all forms present symptoms, including abdominal pain ranging from mild to severe, lumps in the stomach or lower abdomen, difficulty when passing liquid or solid waste, and inflammation or redness.

How Are Hernias Repaired?

Surgery is the only way to truly repair a hernia. Certain creams and devices can provide relief from the symptoms. Surgery is either completed via a traditional open surgery or in a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure. Traditional open repair is performed under general anesthesia, where the abdomen is opened to allow the surgeon access to the internal wall which needs to be repaired. During laparoscopic hernia repair, the surgeon uses a laparoscope and special instruments to perform the repairs inside the body through small incisions, resulting in a less invasive process with a shorter hospitalization time, quicker recovery, and smaller incisions that result in less pain and scarring. The surgeons use laparoscopic hernia repair surgeries whenever possible because of all the additional benefits it provides to patients.

Is Hernia Surgery Necessary?

Dr. Wool and Dr. Hoeltgen review each patient’s condition and case individually to determine the best course of treatment. Treatment typically commences when a hernia becomes symptomatic and the patient suffers from pain or discomfort. There are risks associated with leaving hernias untreated. For example, as with most medical conditions, hernias are more easily treated in early stages. Furthermore, delaying treatment not only prolongs the patient's discomfort, it also increases the risk of the prolapsed intestine becoming trapped, cutting off the flow of blood. This can cause very serious complications of a condition which would otherwise have been very easy to treat.