Surgical options

Open repair – making a small incision in the skin over the swelling.  Can be carried out with local anaesthetic * or general anaesthetic.

Laparoscopic (‘keyhole’) repair– putting instruments into the abdomen and repairing the defect or hole in the abdomen from within. General anaesthetic only and always has to use mesh.

The open method for inguinal can be carried out using just a local anaesthetic, although the majority of surgeons seem to prefer their patients fully asleep under a general anaesthetic.

Keyhole, or laparoscopic surgery, is carried out through small holes in the abdomen, with a telescope and special instruments. The surgeon watches what he is doing on a television screen.  It is certainly a good method for some hernias, but it does have some disadvantages, one of which is that it can only be carried out under a general anaesthetic.

Comparing open with laparoscopic

“…scientific evaluation of the total extraperitoneal (TEP) and Lichtenstein mesh techniques for the repair of inguinal hernia…”