Advanced hernia repair for abdominal wall and groin hernias

A hernia is a weakness or hole in the muscle of the abdominal wall, through which organs or structures from inside of your body can push through, creating a bulge. Hernias can develop in different parts of the body but they’re most common in the abdomen (belly) and groin area.

If you have a hernia (or if you think you might), we can help. At HealthPartners, you’ll find hernia care that’s comprehensive, convenient and compassionate. Our patient-centered approach ensures you get personalized care and treatment from initial consultation through recovery.

Our team includes surgeons with specialized training to treat the most complex hernias, using advanced techniques in minimally invasive, robot-assisted and open procedures. Plus, our surgeons are regularly honored as top doctors by Minnesota Monthly, and rising stars or top doctors by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.

Hernias can sometimes cause serious problems. Head to the emergency room or call 911 if you have a hernia and any of the following:

• Severe pain near the hernia
• Can’t pass gas or have a bowel movement
• You experience nausea or vomiting
• There’s redness or a rash surrounding the area

An abdominal hernia is a hole in your abdominal muscles. To repair an abdominal hernia, your surgeon makes one or more incisions and pushes the bulging tissue back into your abdomen. The hernia repair may include stitching the hernia closed or reinforcing the area with a mesh material.

Abdominal wall hernias occur in different locations on your belly – they’re also called ventral hernias. The following are types of abdominal wall hernia surgeries.

Groin hernias usually occur in the area between the lower abdomen and thigh. The following are types of groin hernia surgeries.

An incisional hernia forms near a previous surgical incision. About one-third of patients who have abdominal or pelvic surgery will get an incisional hernia after the procedure.

Incisional hernias can develop any time after a surgery. They’re more likely if you had a wound infection or if there’s a lot of pressure on the incision. Pressure on the incision can be caused by excessive exercise, obesity or becoming pregnant. Recommended treatment depends on the hernia location, size and symptoms.

Hernias can also develop on the diaphragm, the dome-shape muscular barrier between the chest and abdominal cavities. To repair a diaphragmatic hernia, the surgeon makes one or more incisions and pushes the herniated tissues back into place, then uses strong stitches or mesh to reinforce the area.

A hiatal hernia is when the upper part of your stomach pushes through the opening where your esophagus passes through to connect to your stomach (this is called the esophageal hiatus). The esophageal hiatus can get bigger over time, which is why hiatal hernias are more common as you get older.

You can’t see a hiatal hernia and they don’t always cause symptoms. They’re usually found during a test to see what’s causing heartburn or pain in the chest or upper abdomen. Symptoms of hiatal hernias can often be managed with medicines. However, if medication doesn’t work, surgery may be an option.

A diaphragmatic hernia occurs when one or more of your abdominal organs move upward into your chest through an opening in the diaphragm. Diaphragmatic hernias are usually present at birth, but adults and children may develop one following severe trauma. Surgery is typically recommended for these types of hernias.

If a hernia isn’t causing bothersome symptoms, it may not make sense to repair it right away – we may recommend a “wait and see” approach. We’ll also consider the hernia size, type, location and previous treatments to identify if there are reasons why the hernia would be difficult to repair or more likely to come back.

We’ll also consider your age, overall health and previous surgeries. Some health factors can make hernia surgery less safe, slow the healing process or make it more likely that a hernia comes back. These include smoking, being overweight, uncontrolled diabetes, infection, malnutrition and complications from previous surgeries. You may still be able to have hernia surgery if you have these health factors, but we may recommend you start by addressing them first.

If hernia surgery is the best option for you, we’ll discuss what you can expect from the procedure and possible surgical techniques we’ll use.

We’ve adopted the latest diagnostic and surgical technologies, ensuring precise treatments with shorter recovery times. Our surgeons are always innovating and improving the results of hernia surgery, and often participate in research studies. Your doctor may ask if you’re interested in participating in a research study.

One or more of the following surgeries may be an option for you:

Open surgery uses a single cut that allows surgeons to operate directly on herniated tissue. Open surgery may be recommended for large or complicated hernias, or if you have a hernia that keeps coming back.

During a laparoscopic procedure, a surgeon will operate through small incisions around the hernia. This surgery uses a laparoscope, which is a thin tube that includes a tiny video camera. The surgeon inserts surgical instruments into the incisions and uses the images captured by the video camera to guide the repair. Laparoscopic surgery is generally used for small to medium hernias.

Robotic hernia surgery is similar to laparoscopic surgery and is done through small incisions. The difference is that a surgical robot is used to complete the repair. During a robotic hernia repair, the surgeon uses a screen to direct a robotic arm to perform precision movements. Robotic surgery may be used to repair many types of hernias of various sizes and complexity.

If surgery isn’t an option or if it will take a long time to prepare for hernia surgery, your care team will recommend ways to control your symptoms, including medications, lifestyle changes or medical devices. If hernia surgery may be an option in the future, we’ll connect you with the support and treatments you need to prepare for the procedure.

Sometimes people are able to go home on the day of their hernia repair. But if the repair was complex, you may have to stay in the hospital after surgery. In either case, you’ll need someone to drive you home.

Once you’re home, you’ll need to rest for the first few days. You’ll receive instructions about how to take care of surgical incisions and information about diet and activity restrictions. It is also important to go to any follow-up appointments.

Recovery time from hernia surgery depends on the type of hernia and surgery you had. Recovery time after laparoscopic surgery may be 1-2 weeks, but with open hernia surgery it could take 4-8 weeks.

The time you’ll be out of work is largely affected by the type of hernia repair and the type of job you have. If your job isn’t physically demanding, you should be able to return to work within a few days. But if you need to lift things as part of your job, you’ll need to be out longer.