Open Incisional Hernia repair

This webpage will give you information about an open incisional hernia repair. If you have any questions, you should ask your GP or other relevant health professional.

What is an incisional hernia?

Any operation on the abdomen needs a cut that is closed with stitches. Sometimes the wound does not heal properly, resulting in the contents of the abdomen pushing through. This produces a lump called a hernia (see figure 1).

Figure 1 - Hernia - bowel pushing through a weakness in the muscle wall of the abdomen.

A hernia can be dangerous because the intestines or other structures within the abdomen can get trapped and have their blood supply cut off (strangulated hernia).

What are the benefits of surgery?

You should no longer have the hernia. Surgery should prevent you from having any serious complications.

Are there any alternatives to surgery?

You can sometimes control the hernia with supportive clothing or simply leave it alone. It will not go away without an operation.

What does the operation involve?

A variety of anaesthetic techniques are possible. The operation usually takes about an hour and a half.

Your surgeon will make a cut through your old scar and repair the weak tissue either with stitches or using a synthetic mesh, which is stitched to the muscles.

What complications can happen?

1 General complications

Pain
Bleeding
Infection in the surgical site (wound)
Unsightly scarring
Blood clots

2 Specific complications

Developing a lump under the wound
Difficulty passing urine
Skin necrosis
Injury to structures within the hernia
Injury to nerves

How soon will I recover?

You should be able to go home after two to four days.

You should increase how much you walk around over the first few days after your operation.

Your doctor will tell you when you can return to work depending on the extent of surgery and your type of work.

Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a member of the healthcare team or your GP for advice.

Occasionally the hernia comes back.

Summary

An incisional hernia is a weakness in the abdominal wall which happens when previous wounds do not heal properly. If left untreated, an incisional hernia can occasionally cause serious complications.

Acknowledgements

Author: Mr Simon Parsons DM FRCS (Gen. Surg.)

Illustrations: Hannah Ravenscroft RM

This document is intended for information purposes only and should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you.

The operation and treatment information on this website is produced by EIDO Healthcare Ltd and is licensed by Ramsay Health Care UK. The intellectual property rights to the information belong exclusively to EIDO Healthcare Limited.

You may not copy, print out, download or otherwise reproduce any of the information other than for your personal, non-commercial use.

The information should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you.