Hernia surgery education • Calgary, Alberta
Inguinal (Groin) Hernia in Calgary
An inguinal hernia is the most common hernia type. Learn symptoms, treatment options, open vs laparoscopic repair, and recovery questions.
Common symptoms
- Groin bulge that changes with standing/straining
- Aching, burning, or heaviness in the groin
- Symptoms with lifting, coughing, or prolonged standing
Open vs laparoscopic
Approach depends on anatomy, symptoms, and prior surgery.
Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairRecovery expectations
- Walking is encouraged early
- Return to work depends on job demands
- Lifting guidance varies by repair type
Mesh vs tissue repair for inguinal hernia
Executive summary: Mesh repair is the evidence-based standard of care for most inguinal hernia repairs. International guidelines recommend mesh based on high‑level evidence, with non‑mesh (tissue) repair reserved for specific scenarios.
Key outcomes
- Recurrence: Low long‑term recurrence is reported with modern mesh repairs (approx. 2.1% Lichtenstein; 1.8% TEP; 1.9% TAPP). Traditional tissue repairs (e.g., Bassini/McVay) have higher recurrence rates than mesh repair.
- Chronic pain: Chronic pain rates are generally low (often ~1–5%) and are not significantly different between mesh and non‑mesh approaches in comparative studies.
- Complications: Serious mesh‑related complications are rare (often cited <1%), and the need for mesh removal in groin hernia repair is uncommon (<1%).
When tissue repair may be used
- Contaminated fields (e.g., necrotic/perforated bowel in strangulation)
- A small subset of healthy patients at low recurrence risk who strongly prefer to avoid mesh
- When a patient declines mesh or mesh is unavailable
Key references
- HerniaSurge Group. International guidelines for groin hernia management. Hernia. 2018;22(1):1–165.
- Simons MP, Aufenacker T, Bay‑Nielsen M, et al. European Hernia Society guidelines on the treatment of inguinal hernia in adult patients. Hernia. 2009;13(4):343–403.
- Sajid MS, Ladwa N, Kalra L, et al. Meta‑analysis: tacker vs glue fixation in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Am J Surg. 2013;206(1):103–111.
- Burgmans JP, Schouten N, Smakman N, et al. Anterior vs posterior approach: systematic review. Hernia. 2015;19(2):187–198.
- Sanders DL, Kingsnorth AN. History of hernia repair. Hernia. 2012;16(1):1–7.
- British Columbia Health Technology Assessment (HTA). Inguinal hernia repair: mesh vs non‑mesh techniques. 2015.
Educational content only. Individual recommendations depend on anatomy, symptoms, prior surgery, and surgeon judgement.
Frequently asked questions
What causes an inguinal hernia?
Often a combination of tissue weakness and pressure/strain over time.
Is it dangerous?
Most are not emergencies, but some can become incarcerated/strangulated requiring urgent care.
Do I need imaging?
Often diagnosis is clinical; imaging may help in unclear cases.
How soon can I drive?
Usually once off narcotics and able to brake safely.
Can it recur?
Yes—risk depends on technique and patient factors.