Inguinal Hernia Repair Options

A general surgeon with more than 25 years of experience, Clemens Gerstenkorn, MD, is skilled in acute-care surgery and surgical trauma management. Dr. Clemens Gerstenkorn has performed a diverse range of surgeries, from splenectomys and appendectomies to colon resections and hernia repairs. Over the last five years, Dr. Gerstenkorn has performed more than 190 hernia repairs, including those affecting the inguinal area. An inguinal hernia affects the groin area when tissue protrudes through a weak area in the abdominal muscle. Although an inguinal hernia can cause pain when an individual coughs or lifts something heavy, it is not always a dangerous condition. If the hernia grows or becomes painful, physicians often recommend surgery. Hernia repair can be performed either as an open surgery or as a minimally invasive (laparoscopic) procedure. The surgeon takes into account the patient’s prior surgical history and likelihood of recurrence in deciding on the best method. An open surgery entails making an incision in the groin and pushing the tissue back into place, after which the surgeon sutures the tissue and sometimes places a synthetic mesh to reinforce the weakened fascia. During a laparoscopic hernia repair, the surgeon makes several small abdominal incisions and fills the area with gas to enable observations of the patient’s organs. Using a small camera and surgical tools, the surgeon then repairs the hernia with synthetic mesh. While patients who undergo laparoscopic hernia may recover more quickly than those who undergo open surgery, hernia recurrence may be more likely after the minimally invasive approach. Patients should consult a surgeon with considerable experience in laparoscopic hernia repair to determine if they are good candidates for this procedure.