Hernia Surgeon

Inguinal hernia– This type of hernia is more common in men.  It usually presents as a “bulge” in the groin region and is sometimes associated with pain although painless most of the time.  An Inguinal hernia can develop at any age, and infants are sometimes even born with this type of hernia.

Femoral hernia– Similar to an inguinal hernia, this type forms along the femoral canal, which is just below the inguinal ligament.  Femoral hernias tend to occur more often in females.

Umbilical (Ventral) hernia– This type of hernia appears as a protrusion or soft bulge at the umbilicus (belly button).  It can happen in men or women equally, but particularly common in women during or after pregnancy.

Incisional hernia– As the name implies, this type of hernia occurs at the site of previous surgery. This is more common with larger incisions, or when surgery is done on an emergency basis with infection present.  It is also more likely to occur in patients with poor wound healing, such as diabetics, smokers, patients on chronic steroids or with poor nutrition.

Occasionally, even if the procedure was performed flawlessly for the first time, an incisional hernia may occur.

Hiatal hernia– This type of hernia is not visible, as it involves a weakness or bulge in the diaphragm.  The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the thoracic (chest) cavity from the abdominal cavity.  The most common location is near the gastroesophageal junction. This is where the esophagus enters the abdominal cavity and connects to the stomach.  The most common symptom of hiatal hernia is reflux or heartburn. The majority of hiatal hernias do not require repair surgery, and symptoms can be treated with antacids only.  Large hiatal hernia and those which cause severe heartburn, aspiration, pneumonia, chronic cough or chest pain require surgery.

Rare hernia– Other types include Spigelian hernia, which is found lateral or to the side of the rectus muscles, lumbar/flank hernia, and pelvic floor hernia.

Rectus Diastasis–  While this is not a true hernia, it can present as a bulge in the upper abdomen. This is due to stretching or widening of the linea alba, which is the tendon connecting the rectus abdominis muscles in the midline. This does not typically require repair surgery and is usually fixed for cosmetic reasons.

A hernia is caused by a weakness in the muscle or abdominal wall. While a hernia is sometimes the result of repetitive stress (lifting, coughing, etc.), they are often noticed randomly and not attributable to any particular circumstance.

It is essential for individuals to understand the typical signs and symptoms of a hernia. This makes it easy to determine the problem and identify the appropriate medical treatment.

Mostly, people with a hiatal or inguinal hernia may experience some discomfort and pain around the abdominal area and groin regions. Surgeons are also aware of the fact that some hiatal hernia or inguinal hernia symptoms are painless. Other symptoms may include difficulty swallowing as noted above.

Notably, obese or overweight people, as well as smokers, are at higher risk of suffering from a hernia.

Most abdominal wall hernias will not require any imaging prior to surgery. Usually, the best way to diagnose a hernia is through physical exam, which Dr. Albrecht easily performs in the office. He will let you know if any imaging is necessary depending on your unique situation.

For hiatal hernia, several studies are necessary before considering surgery. Upper endoscopy is needed as well as esophageal manometry tests to study the rhythm of the muscle contractions within the esophageal region. These tests are done by a gastroenterologist. Dr. Albrecht routinely consults with expert gastroenterologists to get these studies done.

Once these tests are complete, Dr. Albrecht will inform the patient of the appropriate treatment alternative available to the patient.

Most abdominal wall hernias will remain the same or get larger over time. Additionally, this type of hernia will never heal on their own.  For this reason, it is almost always recommended that patients undergo repair surgery.

The vast majority of hernias are repaired using mesh which is a material placed behind the muscle to strengthen the repair and minimize the chance of a hernia recurrence. A mesh can also be used in other types of surgical procedures. The types of mesh used by Dr. Albrecht have been used for many years on thousands of patients with excellent results.

Hernia surgeon, Dr. Albrecht has treated thousands of patients in the Katy, Texas area, and advises all patients of the risks associated with ignoring a hernia. Incarceration, (when the bowel becomes trapped within a hernia) is very rare, but can quickly become a life-threatening condition. This would appear as a very hard mass at the site of the hernia and is accompanied by extreme pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever.  Any patient with these symptoms should go to the Emergency Department immediately. It is also crucial that highly-skilled surgeons perform any treatment.

Laparoscopic hernia surgery or robotic surgery is the preferred option for several reasons. First, both surgical methods are minimally invasive, thanks to the small incisions made on the skin. Moreover, individuals who opt for either type of hernia repair surgery will not have to deal with large scars for cosmetic purposes. Compared to open surgery, repair surgery using laparoscopy helps hernia surgeons to perform the surgical procedure with a better visualization. Most importantly, the recovery is typically faster as opposed to open surgery.   Despite these benefits, there are still some patients in which open repair surgery is the best approach. During any consultation with renowned surgeon Dr. Albrecht, he will discuss the options and recommend what is best for each individual patient.

Difference Between Laparoscopic Surgery And Robotic Surgery

When a person visits Dr. Albrecht, he or she will have a discussion of all types of surgical techniques available.

Laparoscopic repair surgery should only be undertaken by a certified hernia surgeon such as Dr. Albrecht.  As for robotic surgery, this is a subset of laparoscopic repair surgery in which a robotic surgeon like Dr. Albrecht controls robotic arms to operate on the individual.

Nowadays, hernia surgeons commonly prefer the robotic technique due to the precision and accuracy achieved. Whether open, laparoscopic, or robotic, these repair surgery techniques entail the insertion of a combination of sutures and a synthetic mesh. The primary function of the mesh is to support the prolapsed organ. During any surgical procedure, the patient is under general anesthesia.

To prepare for hernia repair surgery, one must not eat or drink after midnight prior to surgery. A patient typically arrives at the hospital one to two hours prior to surgery to check in, meet the anesthesia staff and have an IV started. Most hernia surgeries take about one hour or less, and an additional hour is spent in the recovery room while waking up from anesthesia. Hernia surgeon, Dr. Albrecht works with an excellent group of anesthesiologists who have an outstanding reputation in patient satisfaction.

Afterward, a family member or friend must drive the patient home.  A prescription for pain medicine will also be given. Most patients can simply take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen within two to three days after surgery.  Regular or solid food can be resumed that evening. In the case of hiatal hernia, a soft or liquid diet is recommended for the first two weeks after surgery.

Most people who undergo hernia surgery are concerned with the time frame to resume normal activities. The majority of these types of surgeries are done on an outpatient basis, with the patient returning home the same day.  Walking is encouraged even the day after surgery, but heavy lifting (usually over 20 lbs) is discouraged for the first several weeks. Most patients can return to work within one week of the procedure.

Strenuous activities can be resumed after approximately 4 weeks, as the patient gets to full recovery.