Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair

An inguinal hernia occurs when a small portion of the bowel bulges out through the inguinal canal, a passage through the abdominal wall into the groin. There are two types of inguinal hernias:

• Direct inguinal hernias—These occur when a weak spot develops in the lower abdominal muscles. Cause may include, but are not limited to, lifting, straining or coughing or being obese, pregnant, or constipated are often thought to be causes of hernias.
• Indirect inguinal hernias occur as a result of a congenital defect preventing the natural closure of the inguinal canal before birth. This may result in hernias at birth or later in life. This type of inguinal hernia is more common in males.

Symptoms of an inguinal hernia may come on gradually or suddenly and may include a bulge in the groin or scrotum and discomfort, pain, or a feeling of heaviness. A swollen hernia may be evidence of tissue “strangulation,” and immediate treatment may be required to prevent tissue death. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, experience symptoms such as profuse sweating; severe abdominal pain; increased swelling with tight, glistening red skin; rapid heart rate (tachycardia); severe nausea and vomiting; change in bowel habits such as the inability to have bowel movements or pass gas; a decrease in or absence of urine output; or high fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit).

An inguinal hernia may require surgery. However, minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures are available at The Jackson Clinic. In some cases, hernias that are small and painless may never need to be repaired.

If your doctor recommends surgery to treat an inguinal hernia, ask about The Jackson Clinic’s minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgery procedure. This state-of-the-art surgery allows for inguinal hernia repairs to be made through tiny incisions, with reduced recovery time, shorter hospital stay and fewer complications. The Jackson Clinic general surgeon treats patients from all across West Tennessee and the Mid-South, including Memphis, Tupelo, Jonesboro and Paducah.