WHAT IS KEYHOLE SURGERY?
Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair uses an instrument called a laparoscope. Between two and four small incisions are made through the abdominal wall through which are passed the laparoscope (a thin telescope with a light on the end) and surgical instruments into the abdomen.
SO WHEN WOULD KEYHOLE HERNIA SURGERY BE RECOMMENDED?
If there has been a previous failed open repair, particularly if mesh was used 'unsuccessfully' or perhaps, inexpertly. In certain incisional hernia cases where laparoscopy is deemed more appropriate
DISADVANTAGES OF KEYHOLE HERNIA SURGERY
It is technically demanding for the surgeon. What that really means is that its difficult to learn and difficult to do well. He has to practice a great deal and perform a large number to become really good at it.
PAIN AFTER KEYHOLE SURGERY
In practice and depending upon how it is performed, you can get quite a lot of pain after a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, because the pain does not come from the skin cut anyway. The pain is more likely to be related to the fact that the deep tissues have been cut and pulled, and staples may have been used to fix the mesh.
INGUINAL HERNIA
This is the most common hernia(about 70% of all hernias are inguinal hernias). They occur in the groin, the small area of the lower abdomen on each side just above the line separating the abdomen and the legs, and around the pubic bone.