Hernia is one of the health conditions that require surgical treatment very commonly. For most treatment options nowadays, laparoscopic surgery and open surgery are the two options readily available. If you are comparing open hernia surgery vs. laparoscopic surgery, they both have advantages and disadvantages. A look through the different hernia surgery techniques compared can help you make the right decision on which surgery is best suited for you.
You would also have to consider laparoscopic vs. open hernia recovery when you compare these two procedures. So, let’s go through the various laparoscopic hernia surgery benefits and the pros and cons of laparoscopic hernia repair for a better understanding of which type of surgery is better suited for you.
Laparoscopic Hernia Repair Pros & Cons
Laparoscopic hernia repair surgery involves making several small incisions at the surgery site to insert the surgical tools inside the body. The surgical tools complete with a camera scope are used to operate on the hernia from inside the body. Once the herniated tissues are put back in place, similar to an open surgery, the breached muscles are closed up. After removing the surgical tools from the body, the incisions are also sewn to close them. The major difference compared to open surgery is that laparoscopic surgery uses robotic tools. Let’s review some of the pros and cons of laparoscopic hernia repair surgery.
Pros
Smaller Incisions: Smaller incisions directly result in less pain after the surgery and also better recovery. It may also mean that you won’t need to go through general anesthesia, which again has health risks for your body. Smaller incisions in the surgery make it possible for patients to be discharged from the hospital more quickly.
Less Tissue Trauma: Since laparoscopic surgery uses smaller incisions, they put less stress on the surrounding tissues, muscles, and nerves of that incision. This is very important as it decreases the chances of surgical complications as well as post-surgical problems.
Quicker Recovery: Laparoscopic surgery allows for quicker recovery comparatively because it uses smaller incisions and has less tissue trauma. Patients require only two to three weeks to fully recover from the surgery with little to no requirement of mandatory hospital stay.
Cons
Limited Visualisation: The visualization in a laparoscopic surgery uses a camera scope. The field of vision of a camera is limited compared to the human eyes. This makes it harder for doctors to properly treat certain hernia types and their other complications.
Technical Expertise: Although hernia repair surgeries are performed by general surgeons, not every doctor has the expertise required to perform a laparoscopic surgery. These surgeries are performed by doctors who have received specialized training and can handle the technical procedures.
Cost: Given laparoscopic surgery uses high-end technology and expensive robotic surgical tools and the services of a highly specialized doctor, it costs relatively more than an open surgery. However, given the benefits of laparoscopic surgery, it has become a more common treatment option regardless of the cost than open hernia repair surgery
Open Hernia Repair Surgery Pros & Cons
Open hernia repair surgery is the traditional treatment option when it comes to hernia repair. A large incision is made in the body and the hernia is operated from there. Once the herniated tissues have been pushed back into the body, the breached muscles are sewn back together and the incision is closed up with stitches completing the surgery. As you can imagine there are both pros and cons of opting for an open surgery, so let’s take a look at the different aspects.
Pros
Better Visualisation: When you are getting an open surgery, doctors are not reliant on cameras to get the visuals inside your body. Since the incision is large, they can directly look inside your body and operate accordingly. This better visualisation makes open surgery a suitable surgery type for all types of hernia in different parts of the body.
Cost: The cost of an open surgery is lower compared to a laparoscopic procedure. This is mainly due to two factors. Firstly, the doctors required to perform a laparoscopic surgery hospital new delhi are specialists and secondly, the tools used to perform the surgery are also highly expensive. These factors generally lead to laparoscopic surgeries being more expensive. In terms of open surgery, they require general surgical tools and equipment, which has been the standard for a longer time, and is hence more affordable comparatively.
Doctors: General surgeons are trained to perform open surgeries. Given open surgeries have been the standard for a longer period, more doctors are readily experienced to perform an open surgery, compared to a laparoscopic procedure. So, accordingly, you will have an easier time finding a doctor to perform your open surgery than one who can do it with a minimally invasive procedure.
Cons
Longer Recovery: Open surgeries are notorious for a long recovery period complete with mandatory hospital stay. Based on your health, underlying conditions, and recovery after the surgery, you may be required to stay in the hospital for a few days to weeks. Apart from that, the recovery once you are discharged from the hospital is also not easy with patients requiring anywhere from four to six weeks to fully recover.
Larger Incision: A larger incision is made to perform an open surgery, which has its own risk. From having a longer recovery to having a larger post-recovery scar, there are several cons of having a larger incision. Additionally, a larger incision also increases your risk of hernia recurrence in this particular case. It should be noted that if you are going for an open surgery, that you get it from an experienced surgeon to ensure your surgical risks can be mitigated.
Infection Risk: Having an open surgery increases your risk of postoperative complications such as infections. Even though infections are a risk for any type of invasive procedure, it is more with open surgeries. This is mainly because open surgeries use larger incisions, which take longer to recover. If you get the surgery from top surgeons, the risk is only slightly higher than laparoscopic surgery, so you should be aware of it.
The Verdict
Now that you have seen the hernia surgical techniques compared, you should know that both these surgeries are highly successful. You can opt for any of the two surgeries without any fear as these surgeries have low risks, which can be managed by experienced surgeons. Today the choice comes down to the personal preference of patients and the cost associated with the surgery.
So, if you want affordable laparoscopic hernia repair surgery, feel free to visit MASSH. We offer the best laparoscopic surgery hospital in new delhi and are led by experienced doctors and world-class infrastructure. Check out our website to learn more about hernia repair surgery costs at MASSH or visit us today to avail our world class medical services yourself.
