The operation usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete and you'll usually be able to go home on the same day. Some people stay in hospital overnight if they have other medical problems or live on their own.
The length of hernia surgery depends on the type of hernia and the complexity of the procedure. For simple hernias, the surgery can typically be completed in about an hour. However, more complex hernia procedures may take longer, up to four hours. The length of hernia surgery also depends on the type of technique used.
Conventional repair
Open hernia repair is a major surgery that's performed with the aid of general anesthesia or local anesthesia and sedation.
The Procedure
The operation can be as short as two hours or last five hours or more. This depends on the patient's age, medical conditions, hernia size, complications from prior surgeries and other factors. You may be required to stay at the hospital one or more nights depending on the complexity of your case.
Most inguinal, femoral and umbilical hernias can be repaired under local or regional anesthesia. Sedation may be administered based on individual preference in consultation with our anesthesiologists. Laparoscopic repair requires a general anesthetic and temporary intubation with a breathing tube.
With both surgery types, you may feel pain or soreness for the first 72 hours post-op. You can often manage it with over-the-counter drugs, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if your hernia was small or in the groin. Most people have less pain after minimally invasive hernia surgery versus open.
Don't move quickly or lift anything heavy until you are feeling better. Be active. Walking is a good choice. You most likely can return to light activity after 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the type of surgery you had.
The operation usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete and you'll usually be able to go home on the same day. Some people stay in hospital overnight if they have other medical problems or live on their own.
Of all hernia types, large ventral hernias have the most impact on patient quality of life, however they are also the most difficult type of hernia to repair and are associated with high rates of complications.
Most patients will be fully recovered in one week and can resume some normal activities, such as driving, walking and some duties at work; however, due to the use of internal stitches or staples, your surgeon will advise you when it is safe to resume any heavy lifting pushing or pulling.
Typically, the hardest part about hernia surgery recovery, is the discomfort within the first 48 hours after surgery. By the third day after surgery, pain and discomfort will usually begin to improve.
Will my stomach shrink after hernia repair? The size of your stomach will not necessarily shrink after a hernia repair. However, depending on the cause of your hernia and the type of repair you have, you may experience changes in your abdominal appearance after surgery.
Gentle exercise, such as walking, can help you heal faster. Avoid lifting anything heavy or performing strenuous activities for at least four weeks. Sexual intercourse is permitted when you feel ready—generally, around two to three weeks post-surgery.
Hernia surgery normally takes less than an hour to complete from the time you are wheeled into the operating room until you enter the recovery area. After the procedure is over, you will remain in recovery for a few hours so the nurses can monitor your condition.
Most people are able to return to work within 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. But if your job requires that you do heavy lifting or strenuous activity, you may need to take 4 to 6 weeks off from work.
Is Hernia Repair Covered by Medicare Australia? Yes. Australian residents who access repair procedures as a public patient will be covered by Medicare. If you have private health insurance, get in touch with your provider to see how much they will cover.
Femoral hernias are one of the most serious types of hernia. They happen when tissue or part of the bowel slides through a weak muscle wall into the femoral canal at the top of the inner thigh or groin.
Most aren't serious, but they can be. They can also become more serious over time. A hernia becomes serious when it gets stuck in the hole that it's pushed through and can't go back in. This can become painful, and in severe cases the tissue can become cut off from blood supply, causing necrosis (tissue death).
An umbilical hernia is a hernia (protrusion of fat or intestine through a small hole in the abdominal wall layer called fascia) located in or near your belly button. Umbilical hernias are common and come in many sizes ranging from small (less than 1 cm) to medium (1 cm to 3 cm) to large (greater than 3cm).
Most routine hernia operations take about 30 to 90 minutes depending on the type and size of hernia.
Importance Urinary catheters are commonly placed during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair as a presumed protection against postoperative urinary retention (PUR), one of the most common complications following this operation.
At first you may need to rest in bed with your upper body raised on pillows. This helps you breathe easier and may help lessen post-surgery hernia pain. Cold and Heat: Both cold and heat can help lessen some types of post-op pain.
Sitting: for several days after surgery sitting may be uncomfortable. You may have to get up and move around and change positions periodically. Stairs: no limitations. Lifting: for the first week lifting is limited to 20 pounds.
Slowly lay on one side while raising the legs to guide them onto the bed. Roll over while holding the legs to your back. Slowly stretch out the legs and body until comfortable enough to sleep. Avoid sleeping on the sides to prevent drainage issues with the hernia repair site.
The most common cause of chronic pain after hernia surgery is damage or injury to a nerve. During hernia surgery, a nerve may have been injured, compressed, or stuck in scar tissue after the mesh insert was placed. To determine if the pain is the result of nerve damage or injury, a nerve block may be used.