A few hours after sleigh riding with my children, I felt some usual pain in my
lower right groin. No bulging, but definite point tenderness. (I'm 35 years old
and have a desk job. No heavy lifting, except for children.)

A week later, I was seen by a surgeon who specializes in hernia repair. I was
diagnosed with an inguinal hernia and although the pain has left me for the
most part, I have chosen to have it repaired.

I was given two options for the procedure. Lapriscopic repair or direct
incision.

My question is whether one procedure is better than another. The surgeon told
me if it were him, he would have it performed by direct incision. But a couple
of people I've talked with say lapriscopy.

I know one procedure requires general anesthesia and the other local, but don't
know which is which. I've heard the lapriscopy is more expensive but not as
painful during recovery. I don't even know where they insert the scope to
start.

What size of scar would I have from either procedure? Does one method have a
higher "success" rate than the other?

Your comments please.

The opinions of those who frequent this group will be useless for
questions such as this. You would get the most reliable answer to your
questions by asking the surgeon who would be doing the operation.

PF

In general I agree. I would say that the success of laparoscopic surgery is
highly dependant on the experience of the operator. It could be that the
surgeon's opinions are based more on his particualr skill than on a complete
review of the literature with studies done by experiences people.

If you are considering laparoscopic surgery I would get a second opinion. If
you are going to use this surgeon I would let him use the technique that he
feels the most comfortable with.

--
CBI, MD

Subject: Inguinal Hernia repair options

Lapriscopic is much less invasive, and primarily designed for patients who
wants to maintain an appearance in a bathing suit.
Either way, I would want to know that the Anesthesiologist and Surgeon will
remain in the OR for the duration of the procedure, as with any operation...&
of course, afterwards, lift with your legs.

-Dave

Huh? There are a lot more reasons for laparoscopic surgery than simply
the patient's appearance in a bathing suit.

You sure are easy to please. I would find it hard to imagine how a
surgeon could leave the OR during the procedure.

No it is primarily designed to be less invasive, less painful to
recover from and with less associated complications and morbidity

Inguinal scars performed the conventional way are very small, 2-3
inches, and dont show when a bathing suit is worn anyway

Conventional inguinal hernia repair is a minor and quick operation.
Laparosopy is fiddly and awkward, can take quite a bit longer. I dont
imagine it as many if any advantages over a conventional inguinal
repair, given it leaves you with 4 small scars instead of one not much
bigger scar.

Depends on the expertise of the surgeon with the laparoscope, but I'd
be happy to have a conventional inguinal repair.  It's probably
faster.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you have an apple and I have an apple and if we
exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple.
But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we
exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
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