Hernia Surgery Specialist
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North Tarrant Health Providers
Balaguru Sambandam, MD, FACS
General Surgery located in Fort Worth, TX
Hernias form when tissues or organs from one part of your body break through into another. If you have a hernia, Balaguru Sambandam, MD, FACS, of North Tarrant Health Providers in Fort Worth, Texas, specializes in performing minimally invasive hernia repairs. Without surgery, your hernia could strangulate, causing a medical emergency, so call North Tarrant Health Providers today and schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
Hernia Surgery Q & A
Why might I need hernia surgery?
You might need surgery to repair a hernia – a piece of tissue or part of an organ that's protruding through a gap or weak spot into a separate area of your body.
Common types of hernia include:
Hiatal hernia
A hiatal hernia is where the top part of your stomach pushes through the opening (hiatus) in your diaphragm and into your chest cavity. Hiatal hernias are a common problem and often contribute to the development of heartburn (acid reflux) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Ventral (abdominal) hernia
Ventral hernias occur when part of your intestines or other tissues push through your weakened abdominal wall. Epigastric hernias involve the stomach, umbilical hernias protrude from your belly button, and incisional hernias happen at the site of a surgical scar.
Inguinal hernia
The inguinal canal is an opening in your abdominal muscles. Inguinal hernias occur when a section of intestine pushes through into your inguinal canal.
Hernias can be sore or painful, but the main problem is the risk of twisting or strangulation, which can happen if the blood supply to your hernia gets cut off. A strangulated hernia is a medical emergency because a lack of blood flow deprives the tissues of oxygen, causing them to die. Complications from hernia strangulation are potentially life-threatening.
What does hernia surgery involve?
Dr. Sambandam specializes in performing hernia surgery. He uses minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques to carry out hernia repairs, which means he only needs to make a few small incisions large enough for the laparoscope and specialized instruments.
A video camera at the end of the laparoscope sends images of your hernia to a screen for Dr. Sambandam to view. He then performs the hernia surgery using the video feed as a guide. Dr. Sambandam also uses advanced robotic-assisted techniques to perform hernia repairs.
Repairing hernias involves returning the herniated tissue to where it belongs and stitching the weakened tissue. To reinforce the hernia repair and prevent it from happening again, Dr. Sambandam might use a special mesh to strengthen the vulnerable area.
How long does it take to recover from hernia surgery?
Because of the minimally invasive techniques Dr. Sambandam uses to perform hernia surgery, your recovery should be much faster than if you'd undergone traditional open surgery.
Depending on the severity of your hernia, you might only need a week off from desk type work to wean off the pain medication and start moving around comfortably. In general, you do need to be careful not to overexert yourself for six weeks, and you shouldn't drive if you are still taking narcotic pain medication or you have significant pain operating the vehicle.
To find out more about the advanced hernia surgeries available at North Tarrant Health Providers, call their office or book an appointment online today.
