Hernia Care
What's a hernia?
Do you ever experience a heavy feeling in your abdomen when you bend, or pain when you lift heavy objects? Have you noticed a lump that gets bigger when you cough or strain, but vanishes when you lie down? It could be a hernia.
A hernia occurs when tissue pushes through an opening in your abdomen (ventral hernia) or groin area (inguinal hernia). A hernia can only be repaired with surgery. If your doctor decides that a surgical repair is right for you, talk to your doctor about all of your options, including minimally invasive surgery. One option your surgeon may present is robotic-assisted surgery.
Surgeons perform both laparoscopic and conventional hernia repair techniques for various types of hernias, including:
- Epigastric (mid abdomen)
- Hiatal (upper stomach)
- Incisional (occurring through a scar)
- Inguinal (groin)
- Femoral (upper thigh)
- Umbilical (belly button)
How can you prepare for surgery?
To help you make an informed decision, consider bringing questions like these to your surgeon or doctor visit:
- What medical options are available for my hernia?
- What happens if I don’t get surgery?
- What kind of experience do you have with my type of hernia?
- Should I get a second opinion?
- What is the difference between robotic-assisted surgery and laparoscopic surgery?
- What type of anesthesia will I receive?
- How long will surgery take?
- Where will I have scars?
- When will I go home?
- How soon can I lift light weights after surgery? Heavier weights?
What will your surgeon do?
Your surgeon will decide what type of surgery – including laparoscopic minimally invasive or robotic-assisted surgery – is right for you. If you and your surgeon decide that robotic-assisted surgery is right for you, your surgeon will use a 3D high-definition camera for a crystal-clear and magnified view of your hernia. Your surgeon will sit at a console next to you and operate through a few small incisions using tiny instruments, including a camera. Your surgeon fully controls all instruments. Every hand movement is translated by the computer system in real-time to bend and rotate the instruments for a precise repair of your hernia.