What exactly is a hernia, and how is it repaired?
A hernia happens when tissue pushes through a weak spot in your muscles, often causing pain or pressure. The most common types are in the belly (ventral hernia) and groin (inguinal hernia).
Hernias are common in men and women and don’t go away or improve over time. But they can be fixed with surgery.
As many as 1 million hernia repairs take place each year in the U.S1 and it is estimated that 350,000 ventral2 and 800,000 inguinal3 hernia repairs are performed in the U.S. each year. Hernias may be painful, especially as the opening gets bigger and the muscles and tissues become inflamed. But even painless hernias can become a problem.
This page explains da Vinci surgery and how to find a physician who offers da Vinci hernia repair.
Types of hernia repair surgeries
A ventral hernia is in the belly area, while an inguinal hernia is found in the groin. During hernia repair surgery, your surgeon carefully pulls any bulging tissue back where it belongs. Then, they close the weak spot in the muscle with stitches or special thread called suture. To keep the area strong and lower the chance of the hernia coming back, the surgeon usually places a piece of mesh over the repaired spot. The mesh acts like a patch, giving the muscle extra support as it heals.6,7
Surgeons can perform hernia repair surgery using a traditional open approach or minimally invasive surgery. Open surgery requires a large incision (cut) in your belly long enough for the surgeon to see inside and use hand-held instruments.
Minimally invasive surgery allows your surgeon to repair your hernia through a few small cuts. You may recover faster and have less pain. The two types of minimally invasive surgery are laparoscopy and da Vinci surgery. In laparoscopic surgery, surgeons use long-handled tools while viewing magnified images from the laparoscope (camera) on a video screen.
Over 25 Years of da Vinci hernia repairs
Surgeons have used da Vinci systems to perform robotic-assisted surgery for over 25 years. Da Vinci surgery is the most common way surgeons perform many operations, including lung and prostate surgeries.8 People usually spend less time in the hospital after da Vinci surgery compared to open surgery, which means patients can get back to what matters most,9
Da Vinci hernia procedures are performed through a few small incisions about the size of your fingertip. Incisions are made on the belly. Your surgeon sits at a console near you in the operating room. Through the console, the surgeon controls a camera and the instruments to perform your surgery.
Through a 3D high-definition camera, your surgeon can see your anatomy better than with the human eye alone. Your surgeon uses tiny, wristed instruments that move in more ways than the human hand.
Da Vinci robotic surgery outcomes
According to recent studies and data analysis on hernia repair, da Vinci surgery shows favorable outcomes including reduced prescription pain medication for inguinal hernia repair compared to open,10,11 fewer postoperative complications compared to open,10,12-15 and shorter hospital stay compared to open.10,13,14,16
Every surgeon’s experience is different. Be sure to talk with your surgeon about the surgical outcomes they deliver using the da Vinci system. For example, ask about:
- Length of hospital stay
- Return to work timeline
- Transfusion and/or blood loss
- Prescription pain medication
- Length of operation
There are additional surgical outcomes you may want to talk about with your doctor. Please ask to discuss all important outcomes.
It’s important to remember that Intuitive does not provide medical advice. After discussing all options, only you and your doctor can determine whether surgery with da Vinci is appropriate for your situation. You should always ask about your surgeon’s training, experience, and patient outcomes.
Other questions you can ask your doctor
- What options are available and which is best for me?
- What is the difference between open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery?
- Can you tell me about your experience with da Vinci systems?
- How will I feel after surgery?
- What are the risks of this procedure?
Additional resources
- Da Vinci system overview
Learn more about da Vinci system technology and more about robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery.
Learn More - What to expect
Explore what happens on the day of surgery with the da Vinci system and tips for planning and preparation.
Learn More - Ventral hernia surgery brochure
Get further detail about ventral hernia surgery options in our brochure designed for patients and their families
Download Brochure - Inguinal hernia surgery brochure
Get further detail about inguinal hernia surgery options in our brochure designed for patients and their families.
Download Brochure
