Hernia Surgery

Hernia surgery is the go-to treatment for a hernia (a protruding organ or tissue) that causes pain or is at risk of developing complications. At Odessa General Surgery Robotics in Odessa, Texas, Judith Birungi, MD, performs hernia surgery through small incisions using advanced techniques like robotic surgery. Her goal is to repair the hernia in a way that reduces your pain after surgery and shortens your recovery time. Call today or schedule your hernia surgery consultation online.

What is a hernia?

A hernia is a bulge that occurs when an organ or other tissue protrudes through the muscle wall that’s meant to contain it. Most hernias occur in the abdominal and groin areas.

You can develop a hernia from an acute injury, or it can gradually happen as you age due to wear-and-tear on the muscle, creating a weakened area that allows the protrusion. 

A hiatal hernia is a common condition occurring when part of the stomach pushes into the chest cavity. Symptoms vary but typically include bloating, trouble swallowing, and heartburn. Luckily, Dr. Birungi has experience treating hiatal hernias. 

My hernia doesn’t bother me. Why do I need hernia surgery?

Your hernia might not bother you, but they don’t go away on their own and tend to get worse. Surgery is the primary treatment.

Dr. Birungi is an experienced surgeon who’ll discuss hernia surgery and why you need it. Your hernia could get stuck in the hole it protrudes through, causing pain. The hole might also cut off the blood supply to the tissue, causing tissue death.

Hernia surgery aims to prevent severe complications.

What types of hernia surgery are there?

Dr. Birungi determines which hernia surgery you need after an evaluation. The types include:

Robotic surgery

Robotic surgery is an advanced, minimally invasive technique that allows Dr. Birungi to repair your hernia through tiny incisions using robotic technology.

She makes a small incision through which the operation is done with or without mesh.

Laparoscopic surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure using a surgical microcamera that allows Dr. Birungi to perform the necessary repair through tiny incisions.

For the procedure, Dr. Birungi makes an incision in your belly button to insert the camera. She locates the weakened muscle and places a surgical mesh (a thin medical device made of synthetic material or animal tissue) to cover and strengthen the muscle to prevent another hernia.

Open surgery

For open surgery, Dr. Birungi makes an incision at the site of your hernia and pushes the protruding tissue back into place. She repairs the weakened muscle with stitches or a surgical mesh.

What can I expect during recovery from hernia surgery?

Recovery following hernia surgery varies, depending on which surgery Dr. Birungi performed. When using minimally invasive techniques, recovery usually takes a few days; traditional open surgery requires several weeks to fully recover.

Call Odessa General Surgery Robotics today or book an appointment online to learn more about hernia surgery.