\What to Expect Before and After Robotic Hernia Surgery

Hernia is a bulge formed due to an organ pushing its way through a weak portion of the connective tissue in the abdomen or groin. If hernia is not treated at the right time it can get challenging and cause other complications. While initially it might not seem like a big deal and when it forms slight protrusions, it is time to get it monitored and treated.  

The dynamics of how hernia is treated has changed over the years. At present, robotic hernia surgery is known for its modern and accurate treatment. has emerged as one of the most advanced and precise treatment options. With sharpened focus, good flexibility, and the ability to recover quickly, robotic surgery is what patients and doctors are preferring.  

If you have been suggested to get a robotic hernia repair, you might want additional details about what is the usual procedure before, during, and after the treatment. Read this blog to get the understanding of what you are looking for in detail.  

Robotic Hernia Surgery – Here’s What You Should Know

Robotic hernia surgery is done with the help of a robotic system platform known as da Vinci. The entire process is a less painful treatment. When compared to traditional surgery, here, the surgeon directs the robot holding necessary instruments required to perform the procedure with utmost accuracy.  

Some of the best advantages of a robotic surgery are:

• Less number of incisions
• Not too much scarring
• Highly precise and well-directed
• Less pain after operation
• Reduced risk of complications
• Quick recovery and the ability to do regular activities

This type of robotic surgery can easily be performed on a wide range of hernias like umbilical, inguinal, hiatal, incisional, and ventral.

Also Read – How Long Does Hernia Surgery Take

Things To Know Before Robotic Hernia Surgery

To be able to recover soon and avoid unnecessary challenges during the surgery, it is better to be prepared before the surgery and know what is important. Here’s what you need to be aware about:

1. Initial Surgical Review

The first step is to do a thorough analysis. The surgeon needs to check the following: 

• How severe is the hernia and what type of hernia you are struggling with
• Past and present medical condition
• If any surgeries were done in the past
• Present medications
• If the patient is into alcohol consumption or smoking
• The patient can clear all doubts regarding the time to recovery, technique used, and basic expectations discussion before the surgery

1. Medical Imaging

For a smooth experience during surgery, the surgeon will need to gather certain details, such as:

• Size of the hernia needs to be checked through the CT Scan
• To ensure there’s no weakness or infection, blood tests need to be conducted
• To ensure there are not cardiac issues – ECG needs to be done
• Tests of the kidney and liver
• For a few patients they might require checking the x-ray of the chest

Once the patient passes these tests, he or she is medically eligible to go ahead for the treatment.

1. Structured Medication Review

The medication taken by the patient at present will be reviewed by the surgeon and the right suggestion will be provided: 

• Before the surgery, the patient must avoid taking any sort of blood thinners
• Strict ‘no’ to diabetes medicines
• Advisable to keep away from fish oil, vitamin E & ginseng like supplements

The doctor’s will want all details related to the patient’s supplements, medicines, and herbal products so that conversations can be avoided during the surgery.

1. Optimizing Health Before Surgery

Before any surgery altering lifestyle is essential

Give Up On Smoking

Smoking postpones healing and worsens the risk of infection. Before 4-6 weeks of the surgery, one must stop smoking. 

Focus On Nutritious Food

Work on building your immunity and gear up to gain strength to handle the surgery by eating a healthy diet of vitamins, fiber, and protein.  

Weight Regulation

It is ideally sensible for every patient to work on a little weight loss right before the surgery. Less weight means less complications. 

Keep A Check On Chronic Conditions

Make sure that your conditions such as asthma, hypertension, and diabetes are well managed.  

• Finalizing Pre-Operative Instructions

Here’s what the surgeon might suggest: 

• 10 hours before the surgery it is a must to remain empty stomach
• Contact lenses, nail polish, and jewelry should be kept aside before the surgery
• The patient should be accompanied by another person
• Antiseptic solution should be used while taking a bath
• The doctor might ask the patient to carry documents, reports, and clothing for the surgery

Also Read – All You Need to know About Robotic Surgery

Things To Know During Robotic Hernia Surgery

The patient can build confidence only if he/she is well-prepared about what happens during the surgery. This helps with reducing anxiety.

• Anesthesia Is Given– Robotic hernia begins after anesthesia is given. The patient is asleep throughout.

• Small Incisions Are Created- For the robotic instruments to do their job it is essential to make small 3 or 4 incisions to carry out the surgery. 

• Surgical Instrument Placement- This is one of the main aspects of understanding what happens. The surgeon directs the robotic arms with a HD 3D view while seated at the console. There are different ports of connection to the robbot. 

• Correcting The Hernia

Here’s what one needs to do:

• The protruded tissue is pushed back to the right place
• Weakened segments are strengthened
• The abdominal wall is strengthened by keeping a surgical mesh
• Ensuring to safeguard the mesh helps stopping it from recurring

• Wound Closure

Dissolvable sutures or glue is used to close the wound. Fortunately, since the cuts won’t be large, minimal scarring is expected. 

• Time Period of the Surgery

A robotic hernia surgery happens for not more than 3 hours. In addition, it even depends on how complex the hernia is. 

Things To Know After Robotic Hernia Surgery

A robotic surgery aids faster and good recovery. Knowing what to expect is always good. Here’s what happens:

• First 24 Hours – Rapid Recuperation

Once the surgery is done, the patient will be shifted to a recovery room and get monitored by the medical staff on the areas of incision, level of pain, breathing ability, and levels of blood pressure. Once all this is in place, the patient is sent back home within a day based on the surgeon’s advice.

• Initial Discomfort & Pain

It is natural to feel minimal discomfort after the surgery. Along with pain, the patient experiences pain in the shoulders due to residual gas, tightness, and a lot of difficulty around the incisions. Within a few days this condition improves and medication to subside pain is provided. 

• Post Surgery Diet

After surgery, patients need to go easy on their diet by having light food, food with soft consistency and clear liquids. This is done to improve and balance digestion. After receiving a confirmation from the doctor, the patient can continue eating normal food. 

• Essential Body Movement

It is always better to avoid the risk of formation of blood clots. In this case, ensuring smooth movement is highly essential. One of the most important aspects to consider post surgery. On the same day after surgery, it is safe for the patient to walk slowly, climb up without straining the body, and involve oneself in easy and simple household activities.

The patient after surgery should avoid weight lifting, intense fitness activities, bending, excessive strain, and driving until the pain does not subside. For complex hernia, it should ideally take 4 weeks for recovery and for simple hernia it should take only two weeks. 

• Injury Management

Usually the doctor guides patients to take safe care of the injury. The patient is asked to keep the incision away from wetness. For 14 days, activities such as swimming, scratching, rubbing are strictly prohibited. With advancements, the stitches will naturally dissolve and they do not need to be removed. 

• Resuming Work

Recovery happens within a few weeks. The surgeon observes the patient’s ability to heal and suggests what to do next. Usually people who are stationed at one place are advised to go back within a week. Where the profession demands medium physical activities they are asked to go back in 2 weeks. Lastly, the ones who are into intense labor work need to wait for 6 weeks to get back. 

• Post Operation Appointments

When the patients regularly go for a follow-up it becomes easier for patients to monitor how much the wound has healed, check on the state of recovery, and to find out how much has the hernia repaired itself. It is necessary for the patient to be a part of all visits scheduled by the doctor.

Conclusion

Robotic hernia surgery comes with additional benefits such as the ability to accurately place the mesh, reduce rate of relapse, reduce pain, help recover faster, and provide best aesthetic results. 

If you are searching for a good place for robotic hernia repair in India, Obesity Surgeon India is the best one you should try as it is well-known for its reputation in less painful robotic surgeries. At this clinic, patients receive personalized care from awarded surgeons who specialize in difficult hernia cases. The best part is that the advancement in conducting robotic surgeries is commendable.