Inguinal Hernia and Inguinal Hernia Repair:   Bulging out of the skin in the groin area is a potentially serious condition. A one time devastating and crippling condition, today groin hernias are treated by a simple outpatient surgery.

Generality: Usually, two types of groin hernias are identified: direct and indirect.  Both appear as a bulge, at time painful, of the groin.  This occurs because of bowel protruding through an opening of the abdominal muscle.  Modern technique of repair utilizes repair two patch mesh system to “plug” or close the hole: one mesh is placed  inside and the other is placed outside.  This is done to assure both closure of the tissue hole and reinforcement of the repair (see picture below and on the right).

Anesthesia: The procedure is carried out  under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation (you will not remember any of the events of the surgery) plus generous local anesthesia. 

Type of procedure: This is an outpatient procedure lasting about forty minutes. One single 2 ½ to 3 inch incision is made in the groin in the area of maximum discomfort.

Recovery time:   It is short (about one week), with return to full duties shortly after and heavy lifting or labor within three weeks

Postoperative pain:   Well controlled by local application of cold pack and oral medications. 

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