3/6/2019 Open Hernia Surgery vs.

Laparoscopy Patient Guide

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General & Gastrointestinal Surgery

Lifespan > Centers And Services > General & Gastrointestinal Surgery > What Is A Hernia?
> Open Surgery Versus Laparoscopy

Open Surgery Versus Laparoscopy

Each surgery option has advantages. In this regard the advantages of one approach are the disadvantages of
the other.  To a large extent, which option a patient chooses should be based upon what aspects are most
important to him or her.

Open surgery:

Can be performed under local anesthesia (with the patient awake)

Often has a better cosmetic result because the surgeon is able to remove excess tissue and tighten
the skin where the hernia was
May have less of chance of hernia recurrence than the laparoscopic approach. (To date, there are no
scientifically valid studies documenting the recurrence rate for open repair compared to the
laparoscopic approach.)
Is less costly to your insurance provider

Laparoscopy:

Has been available since the early 1990s, and its development was based on the success observed
with laparoscopic gallbladder removal
Can result in less recovery pain
Can result in an earlier return to normal activities
Requires general anesthesia (the patient must go completely to sleep)
Costs your insurance company more than the open approach

Which is the better approach?

This situation is not like that for a groin or inguinal hernia where equal or superior results have been
documented for the laparoscopic approach. In most cases, the open approach is the best and safest way to
repair an incisional hernia.  However, there are situations in which patients may benefit from the laparoscopic
approach.  Thus, incisional hernias are not like inguinal hernias where advantages are present for most
patients with the laparoscopic approach.

Do all surgeons perform both the laparoscopic and open approaches?

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3/6/2019 Open Hernia Surgery vs. Laparoscopy Patient Guide

No.  All surgeons perform the open approach but only some surgeons perform the laparoscopic approach.  It
is important in getting an opinion regarding your surgery to determine if the surgeon performs one or both
approaches and how many of each he or she has performed.

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