Inguinal hernia
Keyhole mesh repair, with a fast return to normal life.
Your surgeon: Stefanos Lazaridis MD, FRCS, Director, 11th Surgical Clinic for Obesity & Reflux, Metropolitan General, Athens · formerly NHS Consultant in Upper GI & Bariatric Surgery, London
Short answer
TEP (totally extraperitoneal) repair is a keyhole technique for inguinal hernia. Through three small incisions, a mesh is placed behind the abdominal wall muscles without entering the abdominal cavity. It is a day-case operation: you go home the same day. Compared with open repair it usually means less pain, small scars and a faster return to work and sport.
How it is done
The operation is done under general anaesthesia through three small incisions below the navel. The surgeon works in the layer between the muscles and the lining of the abdomen, returns the hernia to its place and covers the weak area with a mesh. Because the abdominal cavity is not entered, the bowel is not handled.
If there is a hernia on the other side as well, it is repaired at the same time through the same incisions.
Advantages
Smaller incisions and no large cut in the groin muscles mean less pain after surgery.
Most people return to normal daily life within days, and to sport sooner than after open repair.
Bilateral hernias are repaired through the same three incisions.
Questions
Most people with an inguinal hernia are suitable. Some, for example after certain previous lower abdominal operations, are better served by another technique. This is assessed at the consultation.
Walking is encouraged straight away. I will advise on returning to heavier exercise according to your recovery.
Most people do not feel the mesh once healed.
Next step
Send us your details and I will contact you to discuss whether TEP is right for you.