When the muscles of the abdominal wall weaken, a portion of the intestine may bulge through the opening; this is called a hernia. Hernias may occur in the groin, in areas of previous surgical scars, or around the belly button, according to John Muir Health. Hernias can cause significant pain and may require emergency surgical intervention. Laparoscopic repair--which uses a small telescope and camera inserted through a small incision--can be used to repair many hernias. Although this surgery is minimally invasive, laparoscopic repair of hernias may have some complications.
Pain
A complication of laparoscopic hernia repair is pain which typically can be managed by oral pain medications. According to Pacific Hernia Center, some patients may develop chronic pain in the area of the surgery which may be caused by injury or entrapment of a nerve in the area. This can often be managed by non-surgical measures but occasionally a repeat surgical procedure may be needed to correct the problem.
Infection
Infection is always a possible complication after any surgical procedure. After laparoscopic hernia repairs, an infection may involve the incision itself, the abdominal wall or the blood, according to John Muir Health. Because the incisions are smaller in laparoscopic repairs, the infection may not be as serious as with traditional open surgical procedures. Patients should be aware of the symptoms of a possible infection such as pain, redness and discharge from the incision or fever. A surgeon should be informed immediately if any of these occur.
Injury to Surrounding Organs
Another possible complication of laparoscopic hernia repair is injury to the surrounding organs. According to Monmouth Medical Center, the intestines, bladder or testicles may be injured during the procedure. The specific organ that may be damaged depends on the location of the surgery.
Difficulty with Urination
Difficulty with urination after laparoscopic hernia repair is a common complication because the nerves involved in urination may be irritated during the surgery, according to the University of Washington Medicine. A patient may need a urinary catheter to help pass urine temporarily after the procedure. If there is a problem with urination after leaving the hospital, a surgeon or nurse should be alerted.
Recurrence
Hernias may come back after a laparoscopic repair or after a open repair, according to Monmouth Medical Center. The recurrence may occur as a result of infection, incorrect surgical technique or structural problems within the patient. A repeat procedure may be needed to correct a recurrent hernia; the type of surgery for the additional repair depends on the specific situation.
