Questions to ask about inguinal hernia repair surgery
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Questions to ask about inguinal hernia repair surgery
If you or your child needs surgery to repair an inguinal hernia, answers to the following questions will help you make the decision that is right for you.
- Ask the surgeon how many hernia repairs he or she has done using the type of surgery you will have. The risk of a hernia coming back is lower with an experienced surgeon. This is especially true for laparoscopic repair.1
- Laparoscopic repair usually is not done in children with inguinal hernias.
- Ask whether a synthetic patch will be used to repair your hernia. Patch use is becoming widespread in repairing hernias in adults. A patch may strengthen your abdominal wall, decrease your discomfort after surgery, and reduce the chance that your hernia repair will have to be done again.
- Find out what kind of hernia repair is performed most at the hospital or clinic. If laparoscopy or local anesthesia is being proposed, you will want to know whether the doctor who will be giving the anesthesia (anesthesiologist) and the surgical team are experienced in these areas.
References
Citations
Safadi BY, Duh QY (2001). Minimally invasive approaches to inguinal hernia repair. Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques, 11(6): 361–366.
Credits
| Author | Monica Rhodes |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
| Last Updated | May 16, 2007 |
| Last updated: | May 16, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Monica Rhodes |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC |
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