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Herniorrhaphy
Medically reviewed by Andrew Gonzalez, M.D., J.D., MPH — Written by Becky
Young — Updated on September 11, 2017

Surgery procedure Recovery Cost Risks and complications

Outlook

Overview
A herniorrhaphy refers to the surgical repair of a hernia, in which a
surgeon repairs the weakness in your abdominal wall. A hernia occurs
when a weak area in the muscles of your abdominal wall allows an
internal part of your body to push through.

If you have a direct hernia, which bulges from your abdominal wall, the
surgeon will push the bulge back where it belongs and then repair the
weak spot in your muscle wall by stitching the edges of the healthy
muscle tissue together. When the area of muscle to be repaired is large,
surgeons may sew a synthetic mesh over it to reinforce it. This procedure
is referred to as a hernioplasty.

The chance of a hernia recurring following surgery is low. The likelihood

of reoccurrence varies based on the type of hernia and the surgical
procedure. Prior to the introduction of mesh, hernias reappeared in
roughly 15 percent of people who underwent surgery. The use of mesh
has reduced this number.
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Surgery procedure
Prior to the procedure, your doctor will need to conduct a full examination
to confirm that you have a hernia. Let your doctor know if you smoke,
have a history of blood clots, or are taking blood thinners or large doses
of aspirin.

Hernia repair may be accomplished either in an open fashion or

laparoscopically (key-hole surgery). While the chances of recurrence are
similar with either technique, post-operative pain is less with laparoscopic
surgery.

The steps of the procedure itself are as follows:

1. You will be given a local or general anaesthetic depending upon the

specifics of the surgery.
2. Following anaesthesia, you may need to be shaved to expose the
skin.
3. An incision will then be made parallel to the line of your inguinal
ligament.

4. Once the hernia sac has been identified, the surgeon will place the
protruding organs back into place and then either stitch your
abdominal wall or insert the mesh for larger areas.

5. They will then close their original incision and apply a suitable
dressing.

You will usually be able to return home on the day of the procedure, but
you must rest and you won’t be able to drive for about two weeks. You
should make arrangements to be collected from the hospital.

Recovery
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It takes around three weeks to recover from a herniorrhaphy. You should

be able to carry out light activities and have sexual intercourse after this
time. Strenuous activity should not be undertaken until at least six weeks
after the operation. To decrease your risk of hernia recurrence, most
surgeons recommend not lifting any weight greater than a gallon of milk
for between two to six weeks.

Some swelling is common at the site of the incision following a

herniorrhaphy. It should reduce with time and is not an indication that the
surgery hasn’t been successful. In order to reduce any pain and swelling,
place a clean, thin cloth over the area and apply some ice or a cold pack
for around 20 minutes. This can be done every couple of hours.

Contact your doctor if:

you develop a fever

the incision becomes red and warm

the incision is bleeding through your dressing

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Cost
The average cost for a herniorrhaphy is between $4,200 and $6,200.
Families with insurance will usually have about a $1000 deductible to
meet each year before their provider will cover the procedure.

Possible risks and complications

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As with any surgical procedure that requires anaesthesia, there are risks
involved. They include:

negative reaction to anaesthetic

infection or bleeding at site of incision

nerve damage

numbness of the skin

testicular atrophy in men

damage to the vas deferens in men

mesh infection

damage to intra-abdominal organs

Outlook
The outlook for those requiring a herniorrhaphy is generally good if the
hernia is diagnosed and repaired promptly. The prognosis will depend
upon the size and type of the hernia.

A small percentage of herniorrhaphy procedures are carried out as

emergencies. In these cases, the hernia has usually been ignored, which
has led to strangulation of the hernia or a blockage in the intestines.

Surgery is currently considered the only option for treatment, but surgery
for recurrent hernias is often less successful than the initial surgery.

Assuming your surgery has gone well and you do not develop any
complications, you should be fully recovered within six weeks.

Last medically reviewed on September 11, 2017

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