Excellent State Of Repair

Surgeons offer advanced, individualized care for hernia patients

If you have a bulge in your lower abdomen that is getting bigger or starting to hurt, you may tell yourself that it’s time to get that hernia removed.

Well, not exactly. A hernia is not just a bulge, it’s the hole or the weak spot that the bulge is coming through. The bulge is the tissue—from your intestines, as one example—poking through that defect in the abdominal wall.

So you are not having your hernia removed but repaired. You are correct, however, in saying that a surgical procedure is needed. The good news is that you have options—hernia surgery can be performed robotically, laparoscopically or openly. The better news for patients at St. Joseph’s/Candler is that they will be treated at an accredited Hernia Center of Excellence.

What Causes A Hernia?

The most common type of hernia in the inguinal hernia, which occurs when part of the bowel spills out and creates a bulge in the groin. It happens more often in men, and tends to come with age or repeated strain, such as a job that requires heavy lifting.

“You have an anatomic weak spot because of the way the abdominal wall is put together,” explains general surgeon Anthony Foley, MD, co-director of the St. Joseph’s/Candler Hernia Center of Excellence.

Women can get hernias as well, including a type known as an umbilical hernia near the navel that can occur after pregnancy. An umbilical hernia can also occur in infants, though it generally closes on its own in early childhood.

“People may also commonly get hernias from previous surgical incisions,” says general surgeon Jeffrey Mandel, MD, co-director of the St. Joseph’s/Candler Hernia Center of Excellence. “If someone has abdominal surgery, such as a prostate or colon removed, or a C-section, they could develop a hernia there.”

Unlike congenital (meaning present from birth) hernias, a hernia that develops in adulthood will not go away. Not all hernias are painful, but they usually do get worse over time.

“There are also certain types of hernias that are prone to what we call incarceration, where whatever gets into the hernia gets stuck,” Dr. Foley explains. “Those can be uncomfortable, but our bigger concern is that it could cut off the blood flow to the tissue. That is something we definitely want to fix surgically.”

Your Options

“Our approach to treatment is dictated by a person’s anatomy or prior surgical history,” Dr. Mandel says. “The data has shown that there are lower recurrence rates when the defect is closed and reinforced with mesh, as opposed to only closing the defect.”

Traditional, open surgery involves one large incision through which the surgeon can reach and repair the hernia. There are two minimally-invasive options as well—laparoscopic surgery (in which the surgeon reaches the hernia through tiny incisions with a thin camera and surgical instruments) and robotic surgery (also with small incisions, in which the surgeon uses robotic arms to complete precise movements for the repair). Both Dr. Foley and Dr. Mandel have years of experience with these approaches, and will tailor their treatment to each patient.

“Every hernia should be addressed individually, because certain hernias lend themselves to different approaches for repair,” Dr. Foley says. “Robotic surgery has allowed us to fix some larger, more complicated hernias while still providing the minimally-invasive benefits of less pain, a speedier recovery and shorter hospital stay.”

These outcomes are part of why St. Joseph’s/Candler received the Hernia Center of Excellence accreditation, which both doctors agree is a confirmation of the advanced work already being done here.

“The accreditation validates the fact that we have surgeons capable of handling about any kind of hernia,” Dr. Foley says. “And we can do it safely and with good results.” 

Hernia Center of Excellence

St. Joseph’s/Candler is an accredited Hernia Center of Excellence by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC).

What does this mean for you? This accreditation identifies St. Joseph’s/Candler, its hernia surgical locations and highly-skilled physicians as healthcare providers who deliver excellence in patient safety and care. SRC’s strict evaluation guidelines prioritize patient safety and continuous quality improvement. Studies have shown that SRC-accredited providers achieve reduced risk of complications, faster recovery times and better outcomes.

To learn more, speak with a dedicated Hernia Center of Excellence coordinator at 912-819-2778 or visit sjchs.org/hernia.