Abdominal Wall Hernia Repair Surgery Specialist

What is a hernia?

A hernia is a piece of tissue that’s supposed to be in one area of your body but is protruding through a hole and into an adjoining area. 

Common types of hernia include:

Hiatal hernia

There are two types of hiatal hernia: sliding hiatal hernia and paraesophageal hiatal hernia. 

Sliding hiatal hernias form when your stomach and the part of your esophagus that connects to your stomach slide into your chest through an opening in the diaphragm called the hiatus.

A paraesophageal hiatal hernia occurs when the top of your stomach bulges through the hiatus into your chest. Hiatal hernias are a common problem, particularly for older adults and people who are overweight.

Ventral (abdominal) hernia  

A ventral hernia occurs if tissues such as the intestines push through a weak area in your abdomen. An example of a ventral hernia is an incisional hernia that arises as a postoperative complication of surgery.

Femoral hernia

Femoral hernias also involve abdominal tissues, but in this case, they push through into the femoral canal. A femoral hernia appears as a protrusion near your groin or thigh.

Why would I need hernia repair surgery?

You need hernia repair surgery if you have a problematic hernia, or there were complications that required emergency treatment.

Some hernias don’t cause many – or any – symptoms, but very often, they do cause painful problems. For instance, hiatal hernias can cause heartburn and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

It’s also possible for a hiatal hernia to twist, causing extreme pain and potentially a blockage. This condition requires emergency surgery. Abdominal types of hernia can cause an obstruction or cut off the intestinal blood supply, which also requires urgent intervention.

Dr. Kalan of the Washington Institute of Surgery excels in performing hernia repairs and complex hernia surgeries.

What’s involved in hernia repair surgery?

Where possible, Dr. Kalan uses minimally invasive laparoscopic hernia repair techniques. Laparoscopic surgery involves making three to four small incisions near the site of your hernia. Dr. Kalan passes a flexible tube called a laparoscope into the incision.

The laparoscope has a camera on one end, which sends back images of your hernia that Dr. Kalan can use to make any repairs. The precise repairs your hernia requires depends on the nature of the problem and the tissues involved.

For example, if you have a hiatal hernia, he might perform a Nissen fundoplication procedure. This involves repairing the hernia and then twisting the top of your stomach around to bolster the repair and prevent the hernia from developing again.

Dr. Kalan might also need to use special surgical mesh to support the hernia repair and prevent any recurrence. He has more than 20 years of experience in carrying out hernia repair and is a renowned expert in this field.

If you’re concerned because you’ve been experiencing symptoms of a hernia, call the Washington Institute of Surgery now to schedule a hernia repair consultation or book an appointment online.