Hernias are caused by weak spots of the abdominal wall allowing different abdominal contents to protrude through anatomical abdominal canals. The most appropriate procedure to repair hernias and prevent reoccurrence is the surgical implantation of a synthetic material to sustain the internal abdominal wall.

Five to 10 days before the scheduled surgery you must assure your insurance covers for this type of intervention and inform the insuring company of date and place of the operation. After the nurse in the pre-operative unit will have checked all your papers, an anesthesiologist will administrate you an intravenous medicine to induce you the required anesthesia. In order to choose the most appropriate anesthesia type for your case, the anesthesiologist will ask you about medical history. Most common, hernias are operated under general anesthesia.

During the modern laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon will make 3-4 small incisions on your abdomen and insert a small camera and surgical instruments inside the abdomen. The abdominal cavity will be filled with gas to ensure the visibility through the camera. This modern intervention is safer as it requires no large incision that might expose you to infection.

During the classical intervention the surgeon will repair the hernia by a larger incision from the inside of the abdomen. After reducing the hernia, the surgeon will place a sterile synthetic mesh and suture it on the outer abdominal layer to strengthen the weak abdominal wall. A drainage tube will be left inside the abdominal cavity for a few days to allow the fluids from the procedure to drain out of the body.

After surgery you will be amen to a post-operative unit where you will be monitored and the bandages will be kept dry and clean. While being discharged the doctor will prescribe you painkillers and you will be thought how to manage with the drainage tube; you will be scheduled for an appointment in two weeks after the discharge.

After classical interventions you must stay in the hospital for about 7-10 days while patients operated laparoscopically will be discharged in 4-5 days. Possible complications after the surgery can result in bleedings, side-effects to anesthetics, pain and infection. A potential risk is an injury to the intestines possibly leading to a hernia reoccurrence. You must contact a doctor immediately if you experience fever, chills, nausea or vomiting, drainage from an incision, inability to urinate or long-lasting inflammation in the area.

In the case of a classical incision the scars will be a bit larger than after the more but smaller laparoscopic incisions. You may return to normal activities like showering, driving or lifting light objects immediately as if feel up to it. The ability to do so varies from one person to another.