Open Repair Technique for Hernia
Open repair technique for hernia is among the commonly preferred surgical procedures across the world. During this procedure, the surgeon bisects over a long incision across the location of your hernia. Mostly, they will place a slice of mesh above the muscles to strengthen the weakened tissues.
Our surgeon has extensive expertise and training to conduct this hernia repair technique unquestionably. This involves using various feasible hernia care approaches and the ability to maneuver complex hernia complications.
This post will focus more on the hernia open repair technique to help you to understand better what is involved during this procedure. Dig in!
Conditions That Can Be Treated Using Hernia Open Repair Technique
The open repair technique for hernia treats various hernia complications, includin;
Ventral Hernia
The open hernia surgery perfectly treats the ventral hernia condition. If you are suffering from this condition, you will have a hernia forming in the abdominal wall, across the midline due to a weakness in the muscles creating a gap. Generally, a section of the intestines of an abdominal tissue extends into this space.
You can suffer from ventral hernia at any age and it can be diagnosed based on the location where it forms. You may suffer from incisional hernia, umbilical hernia, and epigastric hernia. Fortunately, all these types can be well-managed using open hernia surgery.
Umbilical Hernia
The umbilical hernia occurs when an impairment within the abdominal muscles around the umbilicus allows abdominal organs and/or tissues to protrude. Generally, this type of hernia is mostly found in infants who are born prematurely or have a low birth weight. Nonetheless, adults can also suffer from an umbilical hernia.
Incisional Hernia
The incisional hernia grows on a previous surgical incision in the abdomen. The surgical incision impairs the compatibility of abdominal muscles, making them weak and allowing the abdominal organs and/or tissues to penetrate the abdominal wall with much ease. In most cases, you may suffer from an incisional hernia a few months or years after the surgical procedure.
Groin Hernia
The groin hernia mostly develops due to weak abdominal muscles. When your abdominal muscles weaken, the intestines and/or abdominal tissues grow to the weakened area. When this occurs in the groin lower abdominal area, this is generally referred to as an inguinal or groin hernia. You may suffer from groin hernia at age, but it is more prominent in males.
Recurrent Hernia
Recurrent hernia is a common problem due to the risks involved with hernia repair surgery. Typically, you will suffer from this problem if the hernia reappears or the hernia repair surgery fails. In that case, you will notice a painful bulge across the site of the prior hernia.
Flank Hernia
Also known as a lumbar hernia, you may suffer from a flank hernia due to a flaw in the posterolateral abdominal wall, a region lying on the back or side of the abdominal wall. There are few reported cases of this type of hernia and is most common in men between the age of 50 and 70.
Hiatal Hernia
Also known as para esophageal hernia, the hiatal hernia mostly occurs when a section of the stomach grows via the esophageal hiatus towards the chest cavity. This hernia mostly appears in adults but it can also form in infants.
What Is the Need for an Open Hernia Repair Technique?
A hernia generally happens due to a flaw in the abdominal wall that impairs the unity of muscles to form a gap. This weakness makes the intestines or abdominal tissues grow into this opening. When left untreated, a hernia can trigger serious health issues such as loss of blood to the intestine and/or infection.
The open hernia repair option is the most effective for various types of hernia. For instance, more complex and larger hernia require this procedure to reinforce the abdominal muscles strongly.
What to Expect During an Open Repair Technique for Hernia
A surgeon carries out this technique under spinal, local, or general anesthesia. Your health condition determines the type of anesthesia and you will be required to choose your suitable anesthesia. During this technique, the surgeon will make an incision of about a half to two inches close to the hernia.
Later, they gently push back the protruding tissues to their natural position. This procedure can be completed within two hours— this duration will vary depending on the complexity and size of the hernia. Mostly, the surgeon places a piece of mesh on the gap to reinforce the damaged tissues.
Preparation Procedure for Open Hernia Repair Technique
A surgeon will explain the pre-procedure instructions before this technique. These instructions will vary depending on the type of anesthesia to be used. For instance, if the surgeon will use general anesthesia, you may be advised to stop drinking and eating for some time before this procedure.
The Benefits of Open Repair Technique for Hernia
The open hernia repair technique will leave you with countless benefits if you are suffering from a hernia. This procedure allows the surgeon to place two pieces of mesh on the sides of the hernia to provide additional support to the weakened tissues or muscles.
Also, this technique can be performed under spinal or local anesthesia, as an alternative to general anesthesia. This means you can still be subjected to this technique even when you have possible risks of complications with general anesthesia.
Also, this technique is more affordable compared to laparoscopic techniques. This is mainly because the technology applied in laparoscopic technique is more expensive compared to an open hernia procedure.
Post Open Repair Technique for Hernia
You will recover from a hernia after an open hernia repair technique based on your health and the complexity of the surgery. Few cases have been reported of swelling and pain within the area of the incision. Also, you may feel some pulling and tugging within the repair area for up to a year after this procedure.
You may recover within a week after this procedure and be able to carry out your daily operations three weeks after the surgery. Nonetheless, you should wait for up to six weeks before resuming strenuous operations. Also, like for any other surgery, you should communicate with your surgeon and attend the recommended follow-up clinics.
