Hernia Repair Techniques

One of the functions of the muscles is to contain body organs in their proper places. When smooth muscle tissue becomes weak or ruptures, the organs can protrude into other areas of the body. This is known as a hernia. How a hernia will be repaired depends on the type of hernia you have and the size of the hernia. Options for repair include sutures and mesh patches that can be placed over the hernia.

Sutures

• If the hernia is very small, your doctor may be able to close it with sutures. According to Aaron Trinidade and Manoj Ramachandran, authors of "Fast Track Surgery: General, Vascular and Urology," sutures are synthetic materials that are used to pull tissues together and help them to heal. This is known as a primary repair. Trinidade and Ramchandran classify sutures as absorbable and non-absorbable. Absorbable sutures are the ones used for the repair of small hernias.

Mesh Patches

• Larger hernias cannot be closed by sutures. According to St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, mesh can be used to repair hernias because it reduces wound tension and prevents the hernia from forming again after repair. In an open repair, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdominal wall and the mesh is placed below the soft tissue that surrounds the muscles. There is also a risk of injury to the bladder, intestines and blood vessels. After an open hernia repair, avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting until your doctor gives you permission to resume your normal activities.

  In a laparoscopic repair, the surgeon makes three or four small incisions in the abdomen and the mesh is placed behind the defect. You will need a medical evaluation and preoperative blood work before you can have this procedure. In people who have had abdominal surgery or have chronic medical conditions, laparoscopic surgery is not recommended. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your operation. Ask your doctor if you can take your normal medication on the morning of the procedure. You should not take aspirin, blood thinners and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Ibuprofen, for several days before the surgery. Schedule a follow-up appointment for two weeks after the procedure so your physician can monitor your recovery. The recovery period for a laparoscopic procedure is much faster than that of the open hernia repair. You will have no activity restriction after your surgery, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences lists the recovery period for this type of surgery as two weeks in length.

Complications

• Both the open and laparoscopic hernia repair procedures can cause complications. The Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons recommends calling your doctor if you experience fever of more than 101 degrees F, bleeding, increased abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting that do not stop, chills, drainage from your incision, or redness surrounding the incision that gets worse. For an open hernia repair, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences lists the recovery period as six weeks in length.