Ventral Hernia Surgery in Peoria

What is a ventral hernia?

A hernia occurs when part of your intestine bulges out through a hole or weak spot in the muscles of your abdominal wall. A ventral hernia refers to any hernia that appears on the midline of your abdomen.

There are three types of ventral hernia:

• Epigastric hernia, which occurs anywhere between the breastbone and belly button
• Umbilical hernia, which occurs near the belly button
• Incisional hernia, which develops at the site of a surgical scar

Dr. Prebil and the team at the Center for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery have extensive expertise treating all types of ventral hernias.

How are ventral hernias treated?

Ventral hernias don’t go away on their own. The only way to repair a hernia is with surgery. If you have a ventral hernia that doesn’t cause pain and is reducible, your provider may recommend watchful waiting. A reducible hernia becomes smaller (reduces) when you press on it or lie flat.

However, avoiding hernia surgery involves risks. The hernia may increase in size and become painful. If your intestine gets trapped in the hernia pouch and loses its blood supply, you may experience sudden intense pain and vomiting. This is called strangulation, which is a medical emergency that requires immediate surgical treatment.

What should I expect from ventral hernia repair surgery?

First, your CMIRS surgeon reviews your medical history and performs a physical exam. Then, they recommend the best type of surgery based on the hernia size, location, and whether or not it’s a repeat hernia.

The team at CMIRS uses minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery whenever possible. Laparoscopic and robotic procedures involve making three to four buttonhole-sized incisions (ports) in your abdomen. Open surgery requires a larger incision across your abdomen.

Laparoscopic and robotic surgery are minimally invasive procedures, which offer the following benefits:

• Less pain and scarring
• Reduced risk of infection
• Faster recovery time

Open surgery may be necessary in some cases, such as strangulated intestines and infections. Both open and minimally invasive approaches involve moving the bulging tissue back into your abdomen and securing the abdominal wall.

To learn more about your options for ventral hernia repair, call the Center for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery or book an appointment online today.