Inguinal hernia is one of the most common types of hernias that appear in the abdominal wall. This disease mainly develops among the male population. And this is due to the fact that men have a special structure of the inguinal canal. To get rid of this ailment, it is necessary to perform an operation to remove an inguinal hernia. If you ignore this disease, then some complications may arise that require urgent surgical assistance. It should be considered in more detail what constitutes an operation to remove an inguinal hernia.
Modern surgical techniques
Currently, there are several varieties of modern methods of surgical intervention. These types of operations for the removal of inguinal hernia include the following:
- During plastic manipulations with their own tissues, the hernia closure is done using the patient’s own tissues. For this, muscles, aponeurosis, fascia can be used. After such an operation to remove an inguinal hernia, the relapse rate is from 2 to 15%, which will depend on the method and the correctness of the selected hernioplasty, as well as on the condition of the patient’s tissues. The main disadvantage of this type of procedure is the preservation of a severe pain syndrome, which lasts for several days after the operation. This can be explained by the fact that the tissues are stretched, and the period of physical rehabilitation is very long. As a rule, after such an operation to remove an inguinal-scrotal hernia, it is contraindicated to engage in physical activity for 3 months.
- Modern methods of surgical intervention, thanks to which you can remove an inguinal hernia, should also include laparoscopy. During such an operation to remove an inguinal hernia in clinics, defects of the abdominal wall are closed directly from within the abdominal region. For this, a special mesh synthetic prosthesis is used. Feedback on an operation to remove an inguinal hernia using laparoscopy suggests that the relapse rate in this case is a maximum of 5%. This will depend on the type of hernia, as well as on the degree of preparation of the surgeon. The main advantage of this method of surgery for the removal of inguinal hernia in women and men is that the tissues are less injured, so the pain syndrome after the procedure is insignificant. Also another plus of laparoscopy is a quick rehabilitation. The disadvantage is the need to introduce directly into the abdominal cavity of a special gas to create an operative space. Another minus is the need for general anesthesia, technical difficulties and high cost of equipment.
- The use of the plastic method without the so-called tension of the patient’s own tissues is becoming increasingly popular. Reviews of an operation to remove an inguinal hernia indicate that the recurrence rate in this case is no more than 1%. Soreness after such a procedure is minimal, since the patient’s own tissues do not have to be stretched. In addition, after the operation it is allowed to engage in intense physical labor within a month, due to which such a procedure can be carried out in an outpatient setting. Answering the question about how long the operation to remove an inguinal hernia lasts, then, as a rule, such an event takes about 1 hour. The whole process is organized under local or spinal anesthesia.
Preparation for an operation to remove an inguinal hernia
Preparation for this procedure involves a patient undergoing a full examination. An operation can be prescribed after a specialist assesses the somatic status of the patient. Thanks to this, the occurrence of various kinds of complications can be minimized.
The choice of anesthesia will be based on what the size of the hernia is. If the stage of this disease is still early, then local anesthesia can be used for the operation, otherwise general anesthesia will be required. During a preoperative examination, a specialist studies the clinical composition of urine and blood. Also, the patient will need to donate blood for biochemical analysis, a coagulogram and an analysis for infection. In addition, a chest x-ray and an electrocardiogram will be required.
Inguinal hernia surgery in children
In children, an inguinal hernia is a neoplasm in the form of a medium-sized cone, which forms in the abdomen. Often a similar phenomenon is observed immediately after birth. There are many methods of treating this pathology. Therapy is selected based on the type of education. If it is already running, then an operation to remove an inguinal hernia in children will be required.
As a rule, surgery is prescribed for infringement of a hernia. If the intestinal loop is pinched, blood circulation is disturbed, which can cause necrosis and peritonitis. In girls, in some cases, the ovary and fallopian tube get pinched, which over time can cause the development of infertility.
The specialist appoints an operation in the coming days after the diagnosis. In some cases, this procedure is delayed, for example, if the baby has any health problems. However, immediately after improvement in general condition, surgery is performed.
Reviews of an operation to remove an inguinal hernia in children suggest that in most cases laparoscopy is used. During this procedure, small punctures are made in the abdominal cavity. As a rule, such operations are painless and do not pose a particular danger to the life of the child. Considering how long the operation to remove an inguinal hernia by laparoscopy takes, this procedure takes from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Features of the rehabilitation period
Since a hernia in the groin area is in most cases a consequence of muscle weakness, prophylactic measures that are aimed at strengthening the muscle walls located in the groin and abdomen are considered the key point throughout the postoperative period.
The duration of the rehabilitation period for the recovery of the female or male body will depend on the chosen method of operation. It will also depend on the type of anesthesia used during the hernia removal procedure.
As a rule, the duration of the outpatient period is from 8 to 10 days if surgery was organized. At this time, patients should adhere to bed rest, save their strength, and also try to avoid any physical activity. In parallel with this patient, a special diet is prescribed.
Another prerequisite is to visit a doctor regularly. Thanks to this, it will be possible to quickly respond to any changes occurring inside the body, and if necessary, take appropriate measures to control the intensity of pain or change tactics that are aimed at rapid recovery after removal of an inguinal hernia.
Throughout the outpatient period, physical activity, including even the lightest exercises, is categorically contraindicated. The duration of this abstinence should be determined only by the attending physician. However, in the future, light physical activity is absolutely necessary, since it can be used to strengthen muscle fibers, raising their tone, which is why the patient can avoid another hernia formation.
The purpose of rehabilitation at a later date
When a certain time passes after the operation to remove the hernia, the main goal is to eliminate possible provoking factors that are potentially dangerous for the occurrence of a relapse of the disease. The following events are organized:
- The correct distribution of any physical activity.
- Strengthening the muscle corset.
- Preventive measures and treatment of predisposing pathologies that may be accompanied by prolonged coughing or chronic constipation.
- The fight against excess weight, which negatively affects the abdominal wall, as it leads to its weakening.
- Refusal of bad habits, first of all, from smoking, as it contributes to the early wear of muscle tissue and the premature formation of signs of aging.
Causes of Pain
As a rule, most patients within 4 hours after a hernia surgery can move themselves. But during the movement, aching pain or soreness of a cutting nature may appear, which is localized in the area where the incision was made. The pain syndrome in its origin may be different:
- Its formation may indicate the presence of a wound healing process, tissue fusion, tissue repair, as during surgery, minor sections of nerve fibers were damaged. And this, in turn, provokes an increase in the sensitivity of the operated area.
- Another cause of pain after surgery is swelling of the tissues.
- The likelihood of a pain syndrome also depends on the duration of the operation. If this procedure was carried out by an insufficiently qualified doctor, then incorrect manipulations with muscle tissues can lead to excessive injury.
- Soreness is not always considered to be evidence of any problems regarding scar healing. The pain may be of neurological or muscle origin.
- Physical activity during the rehabilitation period in some cases provokes a relapse of the disease, during which sharp pain syndromes form. In this case, repeated surgery is required.
- Soreness can also indicate internal or external differences in surgical sutures.
Recovery period
Basically, specialists organize an operation to remove a hernia in the morning. In the evening, as a rule, the first dressing is done to the patient. During this manipulation, discharge appears from the wound, which is the absolute norm.
Throughout the outpatient period, such dressings should be done every day. But if suppuration in the suture area is observed, or if the pain is increased, then the dressings take longer.
If the incision was sutured with silk threads, then the seams are removed for 5-7 days. But recently, specialists prefer to suture surgical incisions using catgut self-absorbable sutures, with which you can achieve the formation of an almost imperceptible scar.
Postoperative medication
As for drug treatment in the postoperative period, it will be based on the presence of certain symptoms. If the patient's pain is severe, then in the early period special painkillers are used. With possible complications, the following medications can be prescribed:
- Antibiotics: cephalosporins, Amikacin, Amoxiclav, Meropenem.
- Drugs that are prescribed to improve tissue trophism: Cavinton, Actovegin, nicotinic acid, Picamilon.
- Various mineral and vitamin complexes that contribute to the rapid strengthening of the vascular walls: vitamin A, C, D, E, K, zinc, iron, phosphorus, folic acid.
Possible complications
It should be noted that absolutely any surgical intervention destroys the integrity of the connective tissues, and is also considered artificial penetration in the human body. In some cases, the human body reacts to such a procedure in a very unpredictable way.
This also applies to an inguinal hernia surgery. If recovery is fast, the rehabilitation period is very short. However, there is another scenario, during which various complications arise. The causes of such complications can be various, ranging from non-compliance with the rules during the rehabilitation period and ending with the infection getting into the wound. The main consequences that may occur after surgery:
- Suppuration in the suture.
- Relapse of the disease, which occurs due to the patient ignoring the recommendations of a specialist.
- The formation of a small hematoma in the suture area.
- Damage to nerves, blood vessels, and also some elements of the spermatic cord.
- Hydrocele, which is the most common complication after hernioplasty.
- The formation of deep vein thrombosis in the lower leg.
- Impaired bowel function.
- Various infectious complications.
Conclusion
Considering where to do an operation to remove an inguinal hernia, this procedure is performed in any hospital. In Moscow, you can contact such private medical institutions as MEDSI, ON CLINIC. If there is a suspicion of such a disease, it is imperative to contact a medical institution for help. If an operation to remove a hernia in the groin area is not organized in time, then after a while the disease can provoke very unpleasant consequences. In the postoperative period, the patient should follow the doctor's recommendations to avoid possible complications.