Ventral hernias are hernias that occur anywhere on the abdominal wall. Incisional hernias can also occur anywhere but are at the site of a prior surgical incision. In ventral and incisional hernias, part of the intestines protrude through a hole or defect in the abdominal wall leading to a bulge and/or pain. Ventral and incisional hernias can vary in size from very small, to very large, multiple and/or complex. Some patients also present to us after a failed prior repair (recurrent hernia).
Ventral and incisional hernias do not just go away and tend to get progressively larger and more symptomatic over time. They may also cause incarceration or strangulation of the bowel (when it gets trapped within the hernia), which is a serious problem that requires urgent medical attention.
Ventral and incisional hernias have a high rate of recurrence if repaired by pulling tissue together and simply suturing them under tension. Modern repair is achieved with a “tension-free” technique though the use of a mesh. At Surgical Specialists, we favor minimally invasive robotic surgery in performing most ventral and incisional hernia repairs. We also utilize this advanced robotic technology to perform complex abdominal wall reconstruction for very large and complicated hernias.
Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery is the key to unlocking better patient outcomes. It has powerful benefits including:
- less pain
- shorter hospital stay, most commonly outpatient or same day surgery
- faster recovery
- quicker return to normal activities
- smaller scars and better cosmetic results
- fewer complications