Situations where laparoscopic surgery may be preferred

Laparoscopic hernia surgery has advantages over open surgery in the repair of an inguinal hernia when:

• You need to return to work as soon as possible. Laparoscopic hernia surgery is associated with less pain and a shorter recovery time than open repair.
• A recurrent hernia needs to be repaired. Repairing a recurrent hernia is easier with laparoscopic surgery because the instruments used do not have to go through scar tissue or mesh from the previous hernia repair.
• The opposite side of the groin needs to be explored for a hernia. Both sides can be explored without another incision in the abdomen because the instrument can be placed so that the doctor can see both sides of the groin.
• Hernias on both sides of the groin are repaired at the same time.