How is Robotic Hernia Repair Surgery Done?
Surgical treatment
The type of operation depends on umbilical hernia size and location and if it is a repeat hernia (recurrence). Your health, age, and the surgeon’s expertise are also important. An operation is the only treatment for a hernia repair.
Your hernia can be repaired with three surgical procedures: open hernia repair surgery, laparoscopic hernia repair surgery, or robotic hernia repair surgery.
Robotic hernia repair
Robotic hernia repair, like laparoscopic surgery, uses a laparoscope and is performed in the same manner (small incisions, a tiny camera, inflation of the abdomen, projecting the inside of the abdomen onto television screens).
Robotic surgery differs from laparoscopic surgery in that the surgeon is seated at a console in the operating room, and handles the surgical instruments from the console. While robotic surgery can be used for some smaller hernias, or weak areas, it can now also be used to reconstruct the abdominal wall.
One of the biggest differences between laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery is that the use of the robot provides excellent three-dimensional images of the inside of the abdomen (vs. the two-dimensional images of laparoscopic surgery). Robotic surgery also allows the surgeon to easily use stitches to sew tissue and meshes inside the abdomen.
Other benefits of robotic hernia surgery are that the patient has tiny scars rather than one large incision scar, and there may be less pain after this surgery compared to open surgery.
Benefits and risks of your operation
Benefits – Operation is the only way to repair a hernia. You can return to your normal activities and, in most cases, will not have further discomfort.
Risks of not having an operation—Your hernia may cause pain and increase in size. If your intestine becomes squeezed in the hernia pouch, you will have sudden pain, vomiting and require an immediate operation.
Possible risks include a return of the hernia; infection; injury to the bladder, blood vessels, intestines, or nerves; and continued pain at the hernia site.
Wound care
- Always wash your hands before and after touching near your incision site.
- Do not soak in a bathtub until your stitches, Steri-Strips, or staples are removed. You may take a shower after the second postoperative day unless you are told not to.
- Follow your surgeon’s instructions on when to change your bandages.
- A small amount of drainage from the incision is normal. If the dressing is soaked with blood, call your surgeon.
- If you have Steri-Strips in place, they will fall off in 7 to 10 days.
- If you have a glue-like covering over the incision, allow the glue to flake off on its own.
- Avoid wearing tight or rough clothing. It may rub against your incisions and make it harder for them to heal.
- Protect the new skin, especially from the sun. The sun can burn and cause darker scarring.
- Your scar will heal in about 4 to 6 weeks and will become softer and continue to fade over the next year.
