A hernia occurs when a tissue in the body pushes through a weakened area of the abdominal muscle wall. An Inguinal hernia is the most common type of hernia. The bowel pushes through into inguinal canal, which is the channel where blood vessels pass. This appears as a bulge on one or both sides of the groin or as an enlarged scrotum and can be painful.
To repair the inguinal hernia, laparoscopic or open surgery is carried out. During open surgery, the patient is given either a local or general anaesthetic. The surgeon will make an incision in the groin and then move the hernia back into the abdomen. The muscle is then reinforced with stitches. A mesh may also be inserted to provide additional support for the weakened area. Laparoscopic surgery is performed using a general anaesthetic. The surgeon will make several small incisions in the abdomen and insert a thin tube with a camera called a laparoscope. The surgeons can then repair the hernia while viewing it on the monitor.