This is a crucial question, given the rapid advancements in hernia repair techniques and the evolution of hernia surgery as a specialized field. The choice of surgeon significantly impacts the outcome. Hernia is highly prevalent, affecting 15-20% of the general population, with inguinal hernia alone affecting 1.5-2 million people (1). Complications, especially recurrence, can severely affect quality of life and financial burden, with 13% of groin hernia surgeries being for recurrent hernias (2).
Factors contributing to complications include patient-related issues such as smoking, chronic cough, obesity, and liver cirrhosis. However, the surgeon’s experience is also critical. Surgeons with less than three years of experience in this field or fewer than 60 cases are more likely to have higher recurrence rates. Conversely, experienced surgeons who have trained extensively and performed numerous open and laparoscopic repairs tend to have lower recurrence and complication rates.
Today, hernia repairs benefit greatly from technological innovations like mesh and the rise of laparoscopic surgery. The field has gained global attention, with numerous societies dedicated to advancing this specialty. The key to a successful hernia repair lies in choosing an experienced general surgeon who has performed a substantial number of both open and laparoscopic hernia surgeries, capable of selecting and customizing the appropriate technique for each patient.
References:
1 Inguinal Hernia Repair: towards Asian Guidelines. Lomanto D, Cheah W K, Faylona J M, et al
Asian Endosc Surg 2015:8:16-23
2 Surgical repair in recurrent inguinal hernia. Anil Sharma, Ankush Sarwal. Annals of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic surgery. June 2017: vol 2