Hernia Surgery

Discover the technology and skill that makes hernia repair surgery at OSF HealthCare so effective. With minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery options from experienced surgeons, you can trust you’re receiving the best possible hernia care.

What Is a Hernia?

A hernia happens when part of an internal organ pushes through a hole or weakness in your muscle tissue. It usually looks like a small bulge under your skin.

Types of Hernias

Hernias in different parts of your body have different names and symptoms. Some hernias are very common, and others are less likely to happen.

Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia happens when part of your stomach slips through a small hole and up into your chest cavity. It’s one of the most common types of hernias.

Halo Ablation

This minimally invasive procedure treats Barrett’s esophagus without making an incision in your body. Your doctor uses radiofrequency waves (heat) to remove or damage dangerous cells in your esophagus while sparing nearby healthy tissue.

PEG Tube Insertion

If you can't swallow or eat normally, you may need a feeding tube, or PEG tube. This tube allows you to put nutrients directly in your stomach.

Upper Endoscopy

Your doctor will use an endoscope — a long, thin tube with a camera on the end — to see inside your upper digestive tract. During the procedure, they can endoscopically treat issues like bleeding, polyps and narrowed areas. You may also hear upper endoscopy referred to as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).

Umbilical Hernia

This kind of hernia happens when some of your intestines push through a hole near your belly button. This hernia is usually present from birth and not something that develops over time.

Ventral Hernia

Ventral hernias include any hernia where part of your intestine pushes through the muscles in the front of your belly. Umbilical, incisional and parastomal hernias are all types of ventral hernias.

Hernia Symptoms

Different kinds of hernias have different symptoms. Some aren’t visible at all. However, many hernias cause a lump under your skin that is only visible during certain positions or activities, including:

Coughing
Exercising
Laughing
Lifting
Straining

When the lump is visible, you may feel:

Aching
Burning
Pinching
Pressure

Hernia Treatment

Some hernias are very small and don’t cause any bothersome symptoms. Your doctor may decide you don’t need immediate treatment unless your symptoms get worse. Dangerous, painful or large hernias require surgery to repair.

Hernia Surgery at OSF HealthCare

Your doctor will recommend a procedure based on the type of hernia you have and your overall health. OSF HealthCare surgeons choose minimally invasive treatment options whenever possible. Some treatment options include:

Open (Traditional) Hernia Repair Surgery

Your doctor makes a small incision to reach your hernia. Then, they push the organ back into place and repair the hernia opening so the organ can’t come back through.

Laparoscopic Hernia Repair

Your doctor uses a long, thin tube with a light and a camera on the end called a laparoscope to see your hernia. The laparoscope and surgical tools go through two tiny openings in your skin. Your surgeon uses the laparoscope and surgical tools to push the bulging organ back in place and repair the hole it pushed through. This surgery is minimally invasive, which means it uses only very small incisions and leads to less pain, bleeding and recovery time than traditional surgery.

Robotic Hernia Repair

Your doctor will perform the same procedure as a laparoscopic hernia repair, but with robotic arms that hold the surgical tools. This allows even more control and precision during the procedure. Robot-assisted hernia repair is minimally invasive.

Surgical Mesh

Your surgeon might close the opening your organs have pushed through by stitching it closed. But if your muscle or tissue is too weak and may rip open after surgery, your surgeon may recommend using surgical mesh to prevent your hernia from coming back.

In the past, surgical mesh caused health problems over time. Modern surgical mesh is very safe with little risk. It’s lightweight, soft and flexible, just like your body’s tissue. It may be biologic, which means it comes from human or animal tissue, and your body absorbs it over time. Our surgeons use an additional barrier between the mesh and your tissue when possible, which makes it even safer.

Schedule a Surgical Consultation

Ask your primary care doctor for a referral to schedule a surgical consultation with the experienced general surgery team at OSF HealthCare. Need a primary care provider? Browse our directory.

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