“What type of surgery is best for inguinal hernia?”

The choice of surgery for inguinal hernia depends on various factors, including the type of hernia, your overall health, and your surgeon's recommendation. There are two primary surgical approaches for inguinal hernia repair:

1. **Open Hernia Repair**:
- **Lichtenstein Repair**: This is a common type of open hernia repair. It involves making a small incision in the groin area and reinforcing the weakened abdominal wall with a synthetic mesh. This procedure is effective and has a long track record of success.

- **Shouldice Repair**: This is another type of open repair that uses the patient's tissues (no mesh) to repair the hernia. It is less commonly performed but may be an option for some patients.

- **Open Tension-Free Repair**: Similar to the Lichtenstein repair, this approach uses a mesh to reinforce the hernia site but without tension on the tissues.

Open hernia repair may be preferred in certain situations, such as when the patient has multiple medical conditions or when the hernia is very large.

2. **Laparoscopic (Minimally Invasive) Hernia Repair**:
- **Laparoscopic or Minimally Invasive Hernia Repair**: In this approach, several small incisions are made, and a laparoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera) is used to guide the surgeon in repairing the hernia. Mesh is often used to reinforce the hernia site. Laparoscopic surgery typically results in smaller incisions, less pain, and a faster recovery compared to open surgery.

The choice between open and laparoscopic surgery will depend on factors such as your surgeon's expertise, the size and type of the hernia, and your individual health circumstances. Laparoscopic surgery is becoming increasingly common for inguinal hernia repair because of its minimally invasive nature and quicker recovery times. However, not all patients are candidates for laparoscopic surgery, so it's essential to discuss your options with your surgeon.

Ultimately, the type of surgery that is best for your inguinal hernia will be determined after a thorough evaluation by your healthcare provider or surgeon. They will consider your medical history, hernia characteristics, and overall health to make the most appropriate recommendation for you. It's important to have a detailed discussion with your surgeon to understand the benefits, risks, and expected outcomes of the chosen surgical approach.

There are two approaches to inguinal hernia surgery, open and minimally invasive. While there has been no data to demonstrate one technique over the other in regards to recurrence of your hernia, minimally invasive surgery (such as laparoscopic or robotic) repairs have a slight advantage with less risk of wound infection and less post-operative pain.

While each hernia is specific and may require a different approach based on the type of hernia and an individual patient’s characteristics, my preferred approach to fixing hernias is a minimally invasive approach because I’ve seen lower complication rates, faster recovery and better outcomes. I utilize a robotic minimally invasive approach whenever possible.
Consult with your specific surgeon regarding your specific needs.

Igenerally group inguinal hernia repairs into 1 of 3 categories.

1: Thelaparoscopic preperitoneal repair using mesh which is what I do most commonly.
2: The open Lichtenstein type mesh repair which I do for older people with othersignificant medical problems and larger hernia defects.
3: Mesh free repairs such as the Bassini repair. I do not typically performthese. In most surgeons hands this is not as good a mesh repair.

Laparoscopic Surgery.