What to Expect After Inguinal Hernia Surgery

Inguinal surgery is a procedure designed to repair protrusions of soft tissue through the lower abdominal wall. Expected outcomes of this surgery vary according to a number of different factors.

Open Surgeries

In some cases, surgeons may repair an inguinal hernia with an open procedure requiring an incision on the outside of the abdomen, according to the Mayo Clinic. Individuals undergoing this procedure may expect a full recovery in as long as four to six weeks.

Laparoscopic Surgeries

Inguinal surgeries may also be performed laparoscopically, a minimally invasive procedure that uses a tiny tube-mounted camera (laparoscope) to view the surgical site through a small incision, notes the Mayo Clinic. People undergoing this type of procedure may return to activity a few days after surgery.

General Outcomes

Most inguinal surgeries go well, notes the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Roughly 3 percent of patients experience recurrence of their hernia.

Outcome Factors

Factors affecting the outcome of inguinal surgery include the patient’s health and age, the size of the hernia and the procedure used for repair, notes the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

Potential Complications

The NDDIC reports potential complications of inguinal surgery that include infection, bleeding, internal organ injury and painful scarring at the surgery site.

References

• The Mayo Clinic: Inguinal Hernia - Treatments and Drugs
• U.S. National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health: Inguinal Hernia Repair
• National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Inguinal Hernia

Resources

• The Mayo Clinic: Inguinal Hernia