What is hernia? It is the protrusion (bulge) of abdominal viscera through a weakened part of abdominal wall. A hernia does not get better over time, nor will it go away by itself (except very small congenital navel hernia). It always becomes bigger with time. What are the common types? The common types of hernias are present in the groin (inguinal), belly button (umbilical) and the site of a previous operation (incisional). There are many more types but are rare.

What are its symptoms? How can it be detected?
Hernia is easy to recognize. It appears as a bulge under the skin. This bulge may appear on standing or straining and disappear on lying down. It may or may not be painful. Discomfort may worsen at the end of the day and also while coughing and sneezing.

What is the treatment for hernia?
Surgery is the only cure for majority of hernias, be it Inguinal hernia surgery, incisional hernia surgery or laparoscopic hernia surgery. There is no medical treatment for it.

When should hernia be treated?
Once detected, for best results, the hernia should be treated as early as possible. Also, an early Inguinal hernia surgery, incisional hernia surgery or laparoscopic hernia surgery will prevent complications like obstruction and strangulation. When compared with large hernias, the surgical results with smaller hernias are much more satisfying.

What is strangulation of hernia? Strangulation of hernia is a surgical emergency. The hernia becomes very painful, does not reduce and the overlying skin becomes red. The patient will require hospitalization and immediate surgery. What are the types of surgery available for treating hernias? The types of surgery available for treating hernias are :

How is the laparoscopic / endoscopic repair for hernia performed?
Three (5-5-10 mm sized) incisions are made and cannulas placed in them. A laparoscope (a long narrow telescope) connected to a special camera is inserted through a cannula (a small hollow tube), allowing the surgeon to view the hernia and surrounding area on a video screen. Other cannulas are inserted which allow the surgeon to work 'inside'. A piece of surgical mesh is fixed over the hernia defect and held in place with small surgical staples.

What are the advantages of laparoscopic/ endoscopic Hernia surgery over conventional surgery?
Endoscopic surgery causes much less pain and patients are mobile within hours after surgery. They are also allowed to resume all activities much earlier and can go back to work within 5-7 days. Another advantage is that both sides can be operated in the same sitting without any extra pain or stay. The cosmetic results are excellent.

Is it necessary to use the mesh in all the cases?
Yes. Now world over, there is consensus that the use of mesh is desirable in majority of patients to strengthen the wall whether surgery is done conventionally or endoscopically. Only the childhood hernias are repaired without using mesh.

Is endoscopic surgery safe?
Yes. Done by a properly trained surgeon in a well-equipped center, it is a safe surgery with excellent results.

What happens after admission for Hernia surgery?
Patients are admitted in the hospital on the day of Hernia surgery or a day prior to surgery. On admission, patients are examined and investigations reviewed by one of the team members. A member of the Anaesthesia Team conducts the pre-anaesthetic check-up. Pre-operative investigations are performed if needed. Patients need to be fasting overnight before the surgery. Next morning, he/she will be shifted to the operation theatre half an hour prior to surgery. After surgery, they are shifted to the recovery room for 2-4 hours under the care and supervision of our Anaesthesia Team for observation and then shifted back to the room. It takes about 4-8 hours before the patient comes back to his / her room.

Patient is given sips of water orally on returning to the room and progresses to drinking all liquids on the same evening as surgery. They may sit up, visit the toilet and move around for a few hours after surgery and are encouraged to do so early.

Patients are given a normal breakfast next morning and discharged from hospital after a visit by one of the team members. On discharge, a discharge summary with the advised medication is handed over to the patient.

Can the Hernia Surgery be performed as a day care procedure?
Yes, day care Hernia Surgery is being performed on young and fit patients. Being only a day care procedure hernia surgery cost in India is also very low as compared to other surgeries.

The patient is called to the operation theatre in the morning in a fasting state of more than 8 hours. After the operation, patient is observed for 4-6 hours post operatively in the day care facility before getting discharged. In case the need arises, there is a provision for overnight admission as well.

Post-operative instructions and information

1. After the Hernia operation you will be kept in the recovery room. This period may vary from few minutes to few hours. The anaesthetist decides about your shifting to room. The decision depends on many technical factors.
2. You will be sleepy immediately after the operation due to sedation given during anaesthesia and during the recovery period.
3. You may have some discomfort when coming out of the effect of sedation. It gradually reduces to a tolerable level within a few minutes without any pain killer. However, if necessary you may ask for pain killer injections/tablets. You should try to avoid these drugs because they produce drowsiness and you may sleep for a longer period which is not desirable.
4. You may feel nauseated in the immediate post-operative period, and you may even vomit which should not cause any worry. This generally gets over after few hours.
5. You are generally allowed to have sips of water immediately after the operation and liquids on day of operation. In case of vomiting the liquid intake may be stopped and restarted after 30 minutes. The liquids may include water / cold drinks / tea / coffee / milk / juices or some clear soups.
6. You are allowed to have normal home cooked meals of your choice from the next morning at breakfast.
7. You should have small frequent meals for few days after operation following which you can resume your normal diet gradually. This is vital because you may feel bloated and distended if the quantity of food is in large quantities at a time.
8. You should try to move the limbs and can sit up immediately after operation. You should also go to the toilet on your own. There are no restrictions whatsoever for the physical movement. In fact majority of the patients will feel much better after they have started the movement. The pain also dramatically reduces once you start sitting up, moving and walking.
9. There is no restriction on your physical activity. You are allowed to walk as soon as you recover from your sleep. There is no restriction on climbing of stairs, lifting weight etc. You may even drive two wheelers or car as soon as you feel fit. This in fact is one of the major advantages of the laparoscopic procedure.
10. You will be discharged on the same day or next day of operation unless there is some associated medical/social problems. You are advised to visit again for follow up after 2-5 days when the dressings are removed. You should avoid wetting the dressings unless they are waterproof. After the removal of dressing, you can have normal bath with soap and water.
11. In very few cases there may be some bloody/whitish discharge from the wound in the post-operative period. This should not bother you because it is generally harmless. You can wipe the discharge and apply band-aid so as to avoid staining the clothes. If it is more you should report to the surgeon during the next visit. Please feel free to ask any question that may come to your mind.
    Incisional Hernia Surgery is done with the help of general anesthesia. The Incisional Hernia Surgery is generally performed with the help of Laproscopic Surgery method, using small incisions in place of the traditional large incisions. This surgery is generally performed by a colon rectal specialist or a general surgeon.

We wish you a speedy recovery...

This is not a substitute for medical advice.
In case of a query, please contact your Doctor.

Bariatric Surgery cost in India and hernia surgery cost India are very much affordable nowadays, with the help of modern techniques and medical advancement.