Abdominal Wall and Groin Hernia surgery
Hernia surgery is surgery to correct "a weak spot".
It is also referred to as abdominal wall surgery.
The most common places of these weak spots in the abdominal wall are the umbilicus (or navel) and the groin but they can also occur after previous surgery (incisional hernia). These weak spots can be painful or can entrap abdominal contents like bowel (incarceration) which can become an emergency situation.
Modern correction of these weak spots often requires reinforcement with placement of a prosthetic mesh.
The mesh is made out of, non-absorbable and pliable material that fully incorporates into the muscle tissue reinforcing the weak spot.
Indication: Weak spot of the abdominal wall
Classification Surgery: Minor-Medium
Minimal invasive laparoscopic procedure: Yes
Expected hospital stay: daycare or short stay (2 days) hospitalisation
Complications and preventive measures
All surgery under general or regional anesthesia carries systemic risks such as deep venous thrombosis, lung emboli, cardiovascular complications: These risks are minimised through preoperative screening procedures and prophylactic (preventive) measures (anticoagulation agents, antibiotics on indication).
Specific complications related to this surgery:
-Postoperative bleeding (very low chance, less than 2%)
-Wound infection (very low chance, less than 2%)
Postoperative Tract
Clinical: Discharge may be same day (daycare surgery) or the next day (short stay surgery) longer hospital stay may be needed in difficult or complicated cases.
Outpatient: Outpatient postoperative controls in the following weeks may vary per surgeon and case
Advice towards lifting, exercise and pressure prevention may vary per case and surgeon.
Usually patients can revert to lifestyle within weeks after the operation.
Correction of an umbilical or ventral abdominal hernia can be done with stitching material or placement of a prosthetic mesh
The procedure can be done in a classical open method or laparoscopically with special double sided meshes.
Correction of a groin hernia is done -by golden standard- with placement of a prosthetic mesh.
The procedure can be done open (Lichtenstein procedure)
or laparoscopically, a TEP or TAPP procedure.
We have a vast experience in all techniques and patients are offered a custom fit procedure depending on physical and hernia characteristics
This is a video of an actual laparoscopic TEP operation done by an AAH staff surgeon (for a recurrence from previous surgery elsewhere).
It is used for educational purposes with patient consent.
