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Femoral hernia repair

Definition

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 abdominal wall. 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.

Alternative Names

Femorocele repair; Herniorapphy; Hernioplasty

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 an incision (cut) in your groin area.
• Your surgeon will find the hernia and separate it from the tissues around it. Some of the hernia tissue may be removed. Your surgeon will push the rest of the hernia 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 incisions and insert the laparoscope and other small instruments through them.
• The same repair will be done as the repair in open surgery. The benefits of this surgery are a faster healing time and less scarring.

Risks

Risks for any anesthesia are:

• Reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems, such as pneumonia
• Heart problems

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Risks for this surgery are:

• Long-term pain
• Damage near the reproductive organs, for women
• Return of the hernia
• Damage to blood vessels that go to the leg

Review Date: 3/30/2009
Reviewed By: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.