Surgical Hernia Repair

A hernia is a tear in the abdominal wall that allows the intestines and other abdominal tissue to poke out of the abdominal cavity. Hernias can be caused by natural weaknesses in the abdominal wall, weaknesses caused by a previous surgical incision, weight gain, or a persistent bad cough. You can also get a hernia when lifting heavy objects, such as moving furniture into your new house on Miami Beach.

To repair a hernia, your doctor will tuck any protruding intestine or abdominal tissue back into the abdominal cavity where it belongs. He will then secure a mesh patch over the weakened portion of the abdominal wall to reinforce it. Traditional hernia repair required doctors to make a large abdominal incision to gain access to the abdominal cavity. Today, however, hernias are repaired using laparoscopic surgery techniques. When fixing a hernia laparoscopically, doctors make three very small abdominal incisions rather than one large one. One incision is used to fill your abdomen with carbon dioxide gas; expanding it so your doctor can more easily see your internal organs. A scope is placed in another to allow the doctor to see into your abdomen while he works. The third incision is the one through which the doctor passes surgical instruments.

With laparoscopic surgery you will experience less pain and faster healing than you would with traditional abdominal surgery. The faster you recover, the sooner you can get back to having fun and enjoying the many recreational activities that make life in Miami Beach so attractive. The procedure can also save you money since it requires a much shorter hospital stay. Many patients leave the hospital the day of or the day after a laparoscopic hernia repair.