Robotic Hernia Surgery may sound futuristic, it is an effective procedure when performed by a qualified surgeon. It allows for smaller incisions, less pain and a more rapid recovery than traditional surgery.
Traditionally, hernias are repaired through open surgery that requires large incisions to push back protruding tissues and sew the weak spot in the muscle wall. However, this approach can lead to complications and a longer recovery time.
When hernias develop in the abdominal wall, they protrude through a weak area in muscle or fatty tissue. This protrusion can be painful and cause discomfort in your abdomen, groin or testicles. Hernias can be corrected with traditional surgery, which can be done in a hospital or outpatient surgery center and requires general anesthesia.
Robotic hernia surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that can offer less pain, faster recovery and fewer long term complications than traditional hernia repair. It allows surgeons to perform hernia repair through small incisions and provides the surgeon greater range of motion and better visualization, making it easier to complete a complex procedure like hernia repair.
During robotic hernia repair, your doctor creates three small incisions, one in the belly button and two in the side of the abdomen. The surgeon then inserts miniaturized endoscopic instruments into the incisions to access the hernia. The surgeon’s hand movements are transmitted to the robotic arms, which translate them into precise movements of the surgical tools. The surgeon’s view of the hernia is enhanced with a camera that allows him or her to see the area from all angles and to track the movement of the surgical tools during the procedure.
The surgeon repairs the hernia by pushing bulging tissue back into the abdomen. This is done through a special mesh that offers strength support, helping to prevent recurrence.
A robotically assisted approach to inguinal hernia repair has been shown to reduce postoperative seroma, chronic pain, recurrence and the need for reoperation. The technique also has the potential to be used for other types of hernias.
After hernia surgery, your doctor will recommend that you avoid activities that increase pressure in the groin and belly, drink plenty of fluids to help prevent constipation and follow any other hospital-specific instructions on self care. Depending on your hernia repair, you may return to work and other light activities in as little as six weeks. Some men may need a catheter to drain urine for a short time after hernia repair.
Umbilical Hernias
Umbilical hernias can develop in infants or adults and usually show up as a soft lump or a loop of intestine protruding through a weakness in the abdominal muscles. These hernias are typically symptomless in children, but can become irritated and painful for adults. Surgery is recommended to prevent the hernia from getting larger and possibly causing complications.
Traditionally, hernias are repaired using open surgery, in which a large incision is made to push back the protruding organ and sew the weak spot in the muscle wall. Laparoscopic hernia repair is a minimally invasive alternative that uses small incisions to insert a thin tube called a laparoscope (along with other surgical instruments). This reduces recovery time and post-surgery discomfort, but it requires a surgeon with advanced training.
Robotic hernia surgery offers the advantages of both techniques. It is less invasive, meaning it causes less pain and a faster recovery, and it provides the surgeon with more precise control over the instruments. With the da Vinci robotic system, a surgeon sits down and does not have to strain his or her upper body during surgery. This allows for more delicate maneuvers and greater precision when putting in place mesh to strengthen the hernia site.
Once the hernia has been removed, a mesh patch is placed in the abdominal wall. This strengthens the area and helps to prevent recurrence. The hernia hole on the belly button is then closed with long-lasting sutures. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, and patients can go home soon afterward.
Before the operation begins, you will be asked to sign a consent form. The surgeon and the surgical team will perform a thorough preoperative evaluation to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery. A surgeon will then explain the procedure and answer any questions you may have. You will also be given a medication to prepare for the procedure. This medicine will help to relax you and reduce anxiety.
Hiatal Hernias
A hiatal hernia is an abnormal bulge in your stomach that pushes through a hole (hiatus) in your diaphragm muscle. Normally, your food pipe (esophagus) moves down from the chest through this opening to your stomach. When a hernia forms, the esophagus is pinched by the protruding part of your stomach and acid can flow up into your throat. This can cause heartburn and other symptoms.
Traditionally, doctors have used open surgery to repair hernias and laparoscopic surgery, which is less invasive than traditional surgery but has its own set of risks. Robotic hernia surgery is an advanced version of both types, offering surgeons a higher level of precision and control and providing patients with shorter recovery times, less post-operative pain and a lower risk of complications or recurrence.
In a robotic hernia repair procedure, your doctor will use a console to control a robot arm with surgical instruments through a few small incisions in your abdomen. The surgeon sees a live image of your insides on a monitor, which gives them complete control over the arm’s movements. The surgeon can even bend and rotate the instruments to perform a hernia repair that’s difficult to access with other techniques.
The procedure starts with placing you under general anesthesia. Then, the surgeon makes several tiny incisions in your abdomen and inserts a device called a laparoscope. This tool is similar to a tube-like telescope with an attached light and camera that transmits real time images of the inside of your body to a screen so the surgeon can see. The surgeon then uses high-tech tools to move protruding stomach tissue back where it belongs (beneath the diaphragm muscle). Once that’s done, they’ll stitch the hernia shut.
The surgeon will also place a piece of synthetic or biological mesh in your stomach to reinforce the area and prevent future hernias from forming. The surgical mesh is made from a flexible material that your own tissue can grow into, helping it integrate and strengthen the abdominal wall. This reinforcement is critical for long-term hernia prevention.
Pelvic Hernias
In this rare type of hernia, abdominal tissue pokes through a weakness in the floor of the pelvic cavity. It can be caused by pregnancy, surgery, or other health problems. It affects more women and people assigned female at birth than men.
You may need surgery if your hernia is painful or getting larger. Your doctor will check your hernia during an exam. They may be able to push the hernia back inside you. Surgery can also help prevent serious complications. Surgery can stop your hernia from coming back in the same place. But your hernia may still return somewhere else in your body.
During laparoscopic hernia repair, your doctor uses a thin tube with a tiny camera on the end (laparoscope) to see the area around your hernia. They make a few small cuts in your abdomen and then put the laparoscope through one of the incisions. They use images from the laparoscope to guide other tools inserted through other cuts and tubes to repair your hernia with mesh. Laparoscopic surgery has a lower risk of complications than open surgery. But it may not be the best option if your hernia is large or you’ve had other surgeries in that same area.
Open hernia repair is done under general anesthesia. Your surgeon makes a long cut in your groin or abdomen to get to the hernia. They stitch the hole closed and place a piece of mesh to keep your hernia from coming back in that same spot.
Your surgeon may also decide to do a laparoscopic evaluation of the opposite side of your groin or scrotum. This lets them look for hernias you might not have noticed. They may then perform an open repair on the other hernia if they find one.
The risks of hernia surgery are similar to those for most surgical procedures. You’re more likely to have a hernia come back if you have other health problems. But it’s important to talk to your doctor about the benefits of hernia surgery and what might happen if you don’t have it.
