Inguinal Hernia Repair–Single (Open)
Inguinal Hernia Repair – Single
An Inguinal Hernia is a condition that occurs in the groin area when fatty or intestinal tissues push through the inguinal canal. The inguinal canal is located at the base of the abdomen and is closed. Men and women have an inguinal canal. In men, the testes descended through the canal shortly before birth. The uterine ligament is located in the canal in women. When there is a hernia in this passage, it results in a protruding bulge that may be painful on movement. There are two types of Inguinal Hernias: Indirect and Direct. An Indirect Inguinal Hernia is the most common type. It often occurs in premature births, when the inguinal canal is not fully developed. However, this type of hernia can occur at any time during your life. Surgery is the primary treatment for inguinal hernias and a very common operation, and a highly successful procedure. Your doctor will recommend either herniorrhaphy (“open” repair) or laparoscopy. Open repair involves making an incision into the groin and returning the abdominal tissues into the abdomen, and repairing the abdominal wall defect. Laparoscopy uses several small incisions rather than a single incision. This surgery may be preferable if you want a shorter recovery time.
FAQS
Frequently asked questions about surgical procedures
Can I use my insurance and get these prices?
Payment is due 14 calendar days prior to your surgery date. If, after the cutoff, your account is not settled, your case must be postponed.
How quickly can I have surgery?
How will I meet my surgeon?
If I had a car or work accident, would you work with my employer or attorney for payment?
What if I get sick right before my surgery?
You could develop a respiratory infection, a urinary tract infection, COVID, or some other condition that may necessitate postponement. There is no penalty when this happens.
What’s Included:
- Facility fee
- Graft and hardware costs (if needed)
- Surgeon and assistant surgeon fees
- Anesthesiologist
- Time in the recovery unit (at no additional charge)
- Initial consultation visit
- One post-operative visit
*Please note: If you choose not to proceed with surgery after the initial consultation, or if you delay your procedure for more than 6 weeks, you will need to update your consultation at a cost of $375.
What’s not included:
- Lab testing before and after the surgery, as needed
- Electrocardiogram (EKG), depending on age. If you had one elsewhere in the past 6 months and it read “normal”, we can forego this expense.
- Imaging costs. X-rays and MRIs can be obtained anywhere.
- Physical therapy services
- Medications you’ll need (oral or IV antibiotic infusions if an infection arises)
- Wound care
- Bracing supplies
- Additional doctor visits (a pre-operative visit with the surgeon, in person, and any required post-op follow-ups after the suture removal to monitor your progress
- Additional surgical intervention if a complication arises
- Additional imaging or hospital care if a blood clot develops
Preparation for Inguinal Hernia Repair-Single Surgery
When you meet with your doctor before the surgery:
Bring a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you take. Make sure you ask for instructions about which medications you need to stop taking before surgery. Usually, this includes drugs that interfere with the blood’s ability to clot, such as aspirin.
Ask your doctor for specific instructions regarding the procedure and your medical condition.
You will probably be advised to stop eating or drinking after midnight on the night before your surgery. You will also need to arrange for someone to drive you home from the hospital after surgery.
Procedure for Inguinal Hernia Repair-Single Surgery
An Inguinal Hernia can be repaired with traditional surgery or with a laparoscope (a thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end).
Open Surgery: General anesthesia will be used, so you will not be awake during the surgery. Your surgeon might decide on a local anesthesia if the hernia is small. In this case, you will be aware, but will receive medications to numb the pain and help you relax. The surgeon will make an incision, locate the hernia, and separate it from surrounding tissues. The herniated tissue will be pushed back into place in your abdomen. Stitches will be used to close up the tear or strengthen weak abdominal muscles. Sometimes mesh is attached to strengthen the abdominal tissues and reduce the risk of another hernia.
Laparoscopy: Laparoscopy can be used when the hernia is small in size and easy to access. This method leaves smaller scars than regular surgery, and recovery time is faster. The procedure is the same as for open surgery, only using a laparoscope and miniaturized instruments.
What to expect after your surgery
Recovering from Inguinal Hernia Repair-Single Surgery
You will probably be encouraged to get up about an hour after surgery. Men sometimes have difficulty urinating in the hours following surgery, but this can be relieved with a catheter (a tube that drains urine from the bladder). This surgery is often performed as an outpatient procedure. If you have traditional surgery, it may take up to six weeks for a full recovery. With laparoscopy, you will probably be able to get back to your normal activities within a few days.
Inguinal Hernia Repair-Single Risk Factors
Risks involved in any surgery include:
- Breathing difficulties
- Bleeding
- Allergic reactions to anesthesia and other medications
There are also some risks specific to Inguinal Hernia repair. For example:
- The hernia may eventually come back.
- You may experience prolonged pain at the site.
- There could be damage to blood vessels. In men, the testicles could be harmed if the connecting blood vessels are damaged.
- There could be nerve damage or damage to nearby organs.
Prevention and Outlook of Inguinal Hernia-Single Repair
Early treatment can help cure Inguinal Hernias. However, there is always the slight risk of complications, such as infection after surgery, scars, and the recurrence of the hernia. Call your doctor if you experience new symptoms or if side effects occur after treatment. Although you cannot prevent genetic defects that may cause the hernias, you can possibly lessen their severity by:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Eating a high-fiber diet
- Not smoking
- Avoiding heavy lifting
Can I Travel to St George for Surgery?
Yes, and we’ll help you make all your arrangements.
- We have arrangements to try to obtain free flights through a non-profit volunteer pilot organization. We can do this with 10 days’ advance notice in most cases.
- We have discount codes for the Holiday Inn in town. This hotel is 1.5 miles from the surgery center and 2 miles from our clinic.
- We’ll arrange to send your after-surgery medications to your hometown pharmacy for pickup before you leave.
What if I would rather drive to St George?
No problem, we can help with those plans as well. When you have surgery with us, we’ll need to make sure you’re safe and comfortable after surgery. We’ll arrange cold compression therapy that requires an AC/DC adaptor/transformer and frequent stops to stretch and refill the ice reservoir on the road.
We’ll ask about the vehicle you’ll travel in to ensure you have a way to elevate and stretch out in the vehicle on the road while someone else does the driving.
How are follow-up and initial consultations handled?
In-person and telehealth consultations are possible with the surgeon to whom your case is assigned. The initial visit is included in the surgical package and is valued at $375.
We can also obtain the flights from the volunteer pilot nonprofit if you’d like to come for initial and follow-up visits in person. One follow-up visit is included in the surgical package at a value of $175. Any additional visits are charged at the time of service to your credit or debit card.
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