Open Femoral Hernia Repair/Surgeryin Bangalore, Procedure, Benefits & More

How Are Femoral Hernias Treated?

Femoral hernias that are small and asymptomatic (without any symptoms) do not require any treatment; however, your surgeon will monitor the lump periodically to see if the symptoms progress. Moderate to large femoral hernias that cause pain and discomfort require surgical repair through an open approach or laparoscopy. 

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Difference Between an Open And Laparoscopic Femoral Hernia Repair

Risks Associated With an Open Femoral Hernia Repair?

An open femoral hernia repair is a safe procedure, yet there could be some possible risks associated with the surgery, including:

• Injury to the bowel causes an obstruction that may lead to persistent constipation.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Formation of a lump around the wound.
• Recurrence of the hernia.
• Numbness in the groin area caused due to injury to the surrounding nerves.

What to Expect After an Open Femoral Hernia Repair?

After an open femoral hernia surgery, you will be shifted to the recovery room for an hour or two until the effect of anesthesia wears off.

• You will likely expect mild pain and discomfort immediately after the surgery, which is normal and can be managed through pain medications. bruising, swelling, and abdominal bloating may be present for some hours and will subside eventually..
• You will be given only clear liquids for the next 24 to 36 hours post-surgery and slowly advance to fiber-rich foods. This diet will prevent constipation from developing during the recovery period.
• You must keep your surgical dressing clean and dry and shower after 1 or 2 days post-surgery. 
• You must avoid hot tub baths, bandage soaking, or swimming until your surgeon advises.
• You will be advised to be active after surgery since being inactive can increase your risk of blood clots. These clots can travel via the bloodstream to your heart and lungs (emboli) and can cause fatal consequences.
• You will be asked to avoid strenuous exercises, gymming, and lifting heavy objects, which may increase the hernia's recurrence risk for at least 4 to 6 weeks. 
• Recovery usually takes around 4 to 6 weeks for an open femoral hernia repair.

How is an Open Femoral Hernia Repair Performed?

Your surgeon will determine the type of surgery you require depending on the severity of your condition and the symptoms present. An open femoral hernia repair involves the following steps:

• You will be taken to an operating room and made to lie on the operating table.
• You may receive general anesthesia (a numbing solution to sedate you completely) through an IV (intravenous) infusion. 
• Your surgeon will make a single incision (cut) using a scalpel (a surgical blade) in your groin area.
• The hernia will be located and separated from the surrounding tissues and gently pushed back to its original position. The excess hernia tissue will be removed.
• Your surgeon will then close the weakened abdominal muscle wall through stitches.
• A synthetic mesh will be placed to strengthen the abdominal wall, provide protection and repair the muscle wall weakness.
• The cuts or incisions will be closed using resorbable sutures (stitches that do not need removal and dissolve on their own), and a surgical dressing will be placed over them.
• An open femoral hernia repair may take around 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size, extent, and severity of the hernia.

How to Prepare For an Open Femoral Hernia Repair?

An open femoral hernia repair is an invasive (involves large incisions and bleeding), in-patient procedure that may require you to stay in the hospital for a day or two. 

Before the procedure:

• Your surgeon will conduct a physical examination of the bulge and may suggest some diagnostic tests like blood analysis, ultrasound scan, and CT (Computed Tomography) scan.
• Your surgeon will review your medical history to rule out diabetes (increased blood sugar levels), hypertension (high blood pressure), and other disorders.
• You should inform your surgeon about any drug allergies, previous surgeries, accidents, and medications being taken.
• You will be advised to stop medications like aspirin, blood thinners, and other herbal supplements that may delay wound healing and cause bleeding during and after the surgery.
• You should avoid alcohol 24 hours before the surgery.
• You will be asked to fast 6 to 8 hours before the surgery.

What is an Open Femoral Hernia Repair?

An open femoral hernia repair is a traditional surgical method that resolves the hernia by fixing the weak part of your muscle wall, pushing the protruded part of the organ or tissue to its original position, and placing a mesh (artificial synthetic prosthesis) over it to keep the organ or tissue secured. The mesh placement prevents the complication of future hernia recurrence. An open femoral hernia repair involves a single, large incision near the groin to open or exposes the area to gain access to the femoral hernia.

What Are Femoral Hernias?

A femoral hernia occurs in the upper part of your thigh near the groin. It presents with a classic bulge that may be painless and harmless initially but may eventually enlarge in size and get infected. Most often, femoral hernias could be inherited (passed down through generations), congenital (present at birth), or could develop as a result of straining that may weaken the muscle walls, that include:

• Obesity (being overweight)
• Chronic (long-lasting) constipation and cough
• Multiple pregnancies
• Lifting heavy objects

Small or moderate-sized femoral hernias usually go unnoticed without any symptoms; however, larger hernias can cause the following symptoms:

• A prominent bulge or lump in the groin area near your upper thigh, that may increase during standing, sneezing, coughing, or lifting heavy objects.
• Hip pain since most femoral hernias are close to the hip bone.
• Severe symptoms include sudden groin pain, stomach ache, nausea, and vomiting.

Overview

Hernia is a common medical condition that is caused due to an organ or tissue protruding through a weakened muscle wall, disrupting the protective barrier. They occur anywhere in your body, including the umbilicus (belly button), stomach, chest, inguinal area, and groins. The hernia that develops in your groin area or inner thigh is known as a femoral hernia, which is more commonly seen in females. This is usually caused due to straining of your intra-abdominal muscles, which increases the pressure within and allows the organs to push through them, causing a prominent bulge.

A femoral hernia is treated surgically through an open repair or a laparoscopic approach. This article explores the open femoral hernia repair, the procedure involved, the possible risks associated with the procedure, and an insight into the differences between an open and laparoscopic hernia repair.