Rare Football-Sized Abdominal Hernia Successfully Repaired with Minimally Invasive Surgery

A 60-year-old man had been living with a large abdominal hernia for the past 20 years. This hernia, which grew to the size of a football, caused him significant discomfort and presented with on-and-off signs of intestinal obstruction (blockage). If left untreated this large hernia could lead to serious complications. Such intestinal blockage can prevent food and waste from passing through the digestive system, leading to severe pain, vomiting, and even tissue death.



Additionally, a large hernia pushes the intestine out making it squeeze and cutting-off blood supply to that part of the intestine. This is a life-threatening situation requiring emergency surgery.

Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Repair

Given the urgency and complexity of this case, the team of surgeons at Sarvodaya Hospital, Sec 8, Faridabad performed a laparoscopy-assisted ventral hernioplasty. This minimally invasive approach involves making several small incisions in the abdomen instead of one large one.

The benefits of laparoscopic surgery are numerous, especially for such cases. Compared to traditional open surgery, laparoscopy offers:

• Reduced pain
• Faster recovery time
• Smaller scars
• Lower risk of infection

The surgery, which lasted approximately two hours, was a success. The patient undertook the procedure well and was discharged within 3-4 days.

This case highlights the effectiveness of minimally invasive surgery for complex hernias. By utilizing a laparoscopic approach, doctors were able to provide the patient with a successful outcome and a faster recovery, allowing him to return to his daily life with minimal discomfort.