what is the best (safest, reliable, etc) repair technique for an
inquinal hernia? How would I locate the best surgeon to do this?

---

Request for Question Clarification by j_philipp-ga on 01 Aug 2002 07:20 PDT

Hello 1874,

To locate the best surgeon: where are you from?

Thanks.

---

Clarification of Question by 1874-ga on 01 Aug 2002 07:23 PDT

I am located in NY State

---

Request for Question Clarification by colin-ga on 01 Aug 2002 07:38 PDT

1874:

For a child or an adult?

Colin

---

Clarification of Question by 1874-ga on 01 Aug 2002 08:31 PDT

This relates to an adult, Colin.

Hello 1874,

I have a general comment on finding a good surgeon.  Hospitals track
outcomes, meaning success rates and complications, very closely.  But
due to the sensitive nature of the information, "physician report
cards" as they are sometimes called are very hard to come by.  If you
ask non-medical people in your area, you will general end up with the
surgeon who has the best bedside manner, not necessarily the best
outcomes.  A good solution can be to ask someone in the medical field,
possibly a physician, "if your wife (son, brother) had this problem,
who would you send them to?"

Regards,

historybuff

There is really no "best" way, which is why there are so many
techniques currently being used. The main choice is between
laparoscopic repair (a couple of small holes and a scope), and open
repair. Virtually all surgeons now place some form of mesh material to
effect the repair, no matter how it's done, and that has improved both
post-op pain, return to work, and recurrance rate. The laparascopic
repair is often less painful after, with quicker return to work; but
it's more expensive, and may have a somewhat higher (but still pretty
low) chance of recurrance. In either case, the surgery is almost
always done as an outpatient, and whereas return to work varies
somewhat, even with the open procedure it is generally a matter of
several days. Be sure you have the surgery done by a Board Certified
General Surgeon. And ask him/her which techique he/she prefers and
why; and how many they've done and what is the recurrance rate.