Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery in Kochi

Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery is regularly performed by the Dept of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) at VPS Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi. The department is headed by Senior Consultant Laparoscopic and Metabolic Surgeon, Dr. R. Padmakumar.  VPS Lakeshore is a multi super-speciality Hospital in Kochi and is a 650-bedded facility with over 30 clinical departments.  The Dept of MIS focuses on laparoscopic surgeries with laparoscopic hernia surgery performed regularly.

Dr. R. Padmakumar, with more than 27 years of hands-on experience in laparoscopic surgeries, has been changing lives through keyhole surgery.  He has completed more than 6000 cases of Laparoscopic Hernia Surgeries.

 Dr. R. Padmakumar and Team performing Laparoscopic Surgery

Why go for Laparoscopic Surgery for treatment of Hernia?

Laparoscopic Surgery is carried out using laparoscope, which is a thin instrument with camera and light at the end of the scope. This instrument is passed through small incisions called keyhole incisions in the abdomen.  As the size of the incisions made are small, the surgery is also called minimally invasive surgery.

In open surgery for Hernia treatment, a large cut is made in the abdominal wall.  The advantages offered by laparoscopic hernia surgery as opposed to open surgery for a patient is reduced hospital stay, less pain, faster recovery as the size of incision is very small.  Surgeon places a large mesh (net of poly propylene) 3-4 times that can be used in open case giving an excellent outcome.

Laparoscopic hernia surgery also has advantage from a surgeons point of view as the camera at the tip of the laparoscope offers magnified vision of the internal structures on a video monitor, and thus allowing the surgeon to perform the surgery safely. 

Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery – Two Techniques

Two common laparoscopic techniques for hernia repair are Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Repair and Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP) repair.

TAPP   – The surgeon goes into the peritoneal cavity and places a mesh through a peritoneal incision over hernia sites.

TEP  – The peritoneal cavity is not entered and mesh is used to seal the hernia from outside the peritoneum. 

Different Types of Hernia

Hernia can be of different types

• Inguinal hernia
• Hiatal hernia
• Ventral Hernia
• Obturator Hernia
• Femoral Hernia
• Umbilical hernia
• Incisional hernia

When to See your Doctor?

Untreated Hernia can lead to complications, which could be potentially serious.  Hernia could grow over time.  Incarceration is a complication and occurs if the intestine gets trapped in the abdominal wall.  This could cause obstruction of bowel, which may lead to severe pain, nausea and constipation.  Strangulation is another complication and occurs if the trapped section of the intestine doesn’t get enough blood supply.  This is a life threatening condition and requires immediate medical attention.

It is always better to get the hernia treated before any complication arise.