Hernia Repair Surgery in El Paso
Have you been diagnosed with a hernia? Your doctor may recommend that you undergo surgery before it gets serious.
Every year in the United States, surgeons perform more than 1 million hernia repairs. A lot of these surgeries are done using the "open" approach, which gives direct external access to the hernia defect by a single skin incision.
In recent times, a high number of patients have undergone laparoscopic hernia repairs. This minimally invasive style of hernia repair surgery in El Paso provides numerous advantages for the right candidates.
Minimally Invasive Style of Hernia Repair
During a laparoscopic hernia repair, three ½-1-centimeter incisions are made by a surgeon in the abdominal wall. A long, thin camera (laparoscope) is then fixed in through an access tube by one incision, and two surgical instruments are fixed in through the two remaining incisions. This gives the surgeon a clear internal view of the abdominal wall to locate the hernia defect. The defect is then medically fixed from inside of the abdominal wall through a piece of surgical mesh.
In comparison to an open method, the laparoscopic repair offers a faster recovery time with minimal pain, allowing you to return to work and engage in other activities faster. This approach is best for patients who have bilateral hernias (on both the left and right sides) because they can both be fixed simultaneously without additional incisions.
Patients with a recurring hernia may also be good candidates for laparoscopic repair, because "open" treatment for recurrent hernias may lead to complications such as relapse, injury to blood vessels and nerve injuries. The smaller incisions that are made during laparoscopic hernia repairs also lead to a different cosmetic result.
However, not all patients should have laparoscopic hernia repair. Patients who have undergone prostate surgery, abdominal surgery, or have a history of obesity might not be the best candidate for a laparoscopic repair, as visualization might not be possible in their cases. In isolated cases, a laparoscopic surgery might have to be converted to an "open" procedure to increase the success rate of their surgery.
Candidates for Hernia Repair Surgery in El Paso
If you think you are a candidate for laparoscopic hernia repair, you should undergo a physical examination and a detailed consultation. Your doctor should inform you about the possibility of converting from a laparoscopic procedure to an open one.
The decision to undergo or switch to an open procedure will often be made by your surgeon before the actual operation. The decision to revert from a laparoscopic hernia repair to an open procedure is strictly because of the safety of the patient.
The best way to find out which surgery is the right choice is to schedule a consultation with an experienced surgeon, such as Dr. Benjamin Clapp.
To schedule an appointment (or for cost and pricing information), please contact us.