Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair

• This is a key-hole technique for repairing groin hernias. It uses a mesh technique very similar to the standard open operation but instead of a cut in the groin you have three small incisions after the operation. Fixation may be used to hold the mesh in place and stop the hernia recurring and coming back.
• At your consultation we will explain in more detail some of the aims, benefits, risks and alternatives to this procedure (operation/treatment). We want you to be informed about your choices to help you to be fully involved in making any decisions.
• We will discuss which technique and approach we feel is best for you based on your medical history. Please ask about anything you do not fully understand or wish to have explained in more detail.

Open Inguinal Hernia Surgery

• This is an open repair of the hernia which means the surgeon will make a small incision in the groin area, cutting down through the different tissue layers until they find the hernia. The hernia will be reduced and then a combination of sutures and mesh will be used to reinforce the tissue and prevent the hernia returning.
• At your consultation we will explain in more detail some of the aims, benefits, risks and alternatives to this procedure (operation/treatment). We want you to be informed about your choices to help you to be fully involved in making any decisions.
• We will discuss which technique and approach we feel is best for you based on your medical history. Please ask about anything you do not fully understand or wish to have explained in more detail.

Ventral Hernia Surgery

• Ventral hernias include a number of different hernias such as umbilical hernias and incisional hernias, we will go through them both here.
• An umbilical hernia is usually a small protrusion from the abdomen through the umbilicus. If we catch it early and it is small, we will repair it through a small open incision with some sutures and potentially a small piece of mesh. A large umbilical hernia may need a larger open incision or a minimally invasive keyhole repair with sutures, mesh and a fixation device.
• Incisional hernias occur when a surgical site incision doesn’t heal back together correctly, and some holes are left that your abdominal contents can push into. The technique we use will depend on the size and the position of the holes. This could be repaired either with an open technique through a small incision using a combination of sutures and mesh or it could be repaired laparoscopically with mesh and a fixation device.
• At your consultation we will explain in more detail some of the aims, benefits, risks and alternatives to this procedure (operation/treatment). We want you to be informed about your choices to help you to be fully involved in making any decisions.
• We will discuss which technique and approach we feel is best for you based on your medical history. Please ask about anything you do not fully understand or wish to have explained in more detail.

Hiatus Hernia Surgery

• Hiatus hernias occur when the top part of the stomach pushes up through a small opening in your diaphragm into your chest. This may come through weakening of the muscles of the diaphragm as you age but can be made worse through smoking, drinking alcohol and if you are overweight. You will usually know you have got this type of hernia due to reflux or pains in the chest.
• The hiatus hernia will usually be repaired using the minimally invasively keyhole repair through 3-4 small incisions. The stomach and oesophagus is dissected and pulled down from the chest. The hole in the diaphragm is then made smaller so there is no gap around the oesophagus, this is achieved by using some sutures. The stomach is then wrapped around the oesophagus to reduce the risk of the stomach slipping back upwards over time. This type of repair we most commonly utilise is known as a laparoscopic Nissen-fundoplication. A mesh may also be used if the repair needs extra enforcement.
• At your consultation we will explain in more detail some of the aims, benefits, risks and alternatives to this procedure (operation/treatment). We want you to be informed about your choices to help you to be fully involved in making any decisions.
• We will discuss which technique and approach we feel is best for you based on your medical history. Please ask about anything you do not fully understand or wish to have explained in more detail.

Non Surgical