Femoral hernia repair - Overview

Definition of Femoral hernia repair:

Femoral hernia repair is surgery to repair a hernia near the groin or upper thigh. A femoral hernia is tissue that bulges out of a weak spot in the groin. Usually this tissue is part of the intestine.

In surgery to repair the hernia, the tissue is pushed back in, and the weakened area is sewn closed or strengthened. This repair can be done with open or laparoscopic surgery.

Description:

You will probably receive general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free) for this surgery. If your hernia is small, you may receive local anesthesia and medicine to relax you. You will be awake but pain-free.

In open surgery:

• Your surgeon will make a surgical cut in your groin area.
• Your surgeon will find the hernia and separate it from the tissues around it. Some of the extra hernia tissue may be removed. Your surgeon will push the rest of the intestinal contents back inside your abdomen.
• Then your surgeon will close your weakened abdominal muscles with stitches.
• Often a piece of mesh is also sewn into place to strengthen your abdominal wall. This repairs the weakness in the wall of your abdomen.

Your surgeon may use a laparoscope instead of doing open surgery.

• A laparoscope is a thin tube with a tiny camera on the end that allows your surgeon to see inside your body.
• Your surgeon will make 3 or 4 small cuts and insert the laparoscope and other small instruments through them.
• The same repair will be done as in open surgery. The benefits of this surgery are a faster healing time, less pain, and less scarring.

Why the Procedure Is Performed:

All femoral hernias need to be repaired, even if they do not cause any symptoms. If the hernia is not repaired, the intestine can get trapped in the hernia (called an "incarcerated" or "strangulated" hernia).

When a hernia gets incarcerated or strangulated, blood supply to the intestines can be cut off. This can be life threatening. If this happens, you would need emergency surgery.