109. HerniaTalk LIVE Q&A: Hernia Mesh Past, Present & Future 

Thank you for the discussion. I am happy to hear you say when you don’t know. The honesty and humility is refreshing.

Another perspective.... It's not so simple or easy for patients with CCD, complex chronic disease, to get second opinions in a timely manner. The wait times to consult with surgical specialists can be long and when in high level pain and crushing debility, researching and administrative work can be very difficult to execute. Then waiting months for consults can be miserable and allow disease to progress. Researching screwdrivers while seated in a comfortable position is much different than researching surgical options to save your life while in high level pain.

Great show! Thank you for helping me having more educated opinion on this matter.

I think it perfectly acceptable to not know definitively about a procedure or outcome, thats the nature of things sometimes, maybe that's why its called practicing medicine, as long as there is no harm done

There are a lot of reports of negative hernia operation outcomes. Both mesh and open surgery are causing horrible chronic and life-long nerve pain... It's not worth the risk if you can live with your hernia... The 'bad outcomes' figure is probably much higher than being reported... Seriously, don't do it until you have to. (Beyond me why surgeons can't learn to avoid disturbing the three main nerves in the groin area. They're easily viable and identifiable. ) Some surgeons even think it's ok to cut one of the offending nerves in an attempt to stave off nerve pain outcomes... But this is done at the expense of numbness in the groin!! Seriously? You're so afraid of causing chronic pain that you think it's ok to sever the nerve and leave the patient with less feeling inn his sexual organs?? Absolutely ridiculous trade-off! - Nope, they're lying to to you. Hernia operations are hit-and-miss at best and should be avoided at all costs (Until absolutely necessary). Which may never happen if you learn how to stop the progression of the condition. Wearing of belts, altering body movements, etc.

I just had umbilical hernia robotic assisted w/mesh... I twisted like a moron first thing trying to get something and it felt like something broke in there. Nurse said likely just gas, but why the big weird feeling right when I reached and twisted behind me? Idk what kind of mesh either. Wish I found this yesterday. I may have waited and done more research.

I had laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (with a mesh) six (6) months [not days/weeks] ago and it has been horrible. My condition is actually worse than before the surgery. The mesh feels like a piece of sandpaper was surgically implanted inside of my body and the area where the hernia was a half year ago is still painful and swollen. My right testicle has been swollen and inflamed and is still approximately 100% larger than my left testicle. My condition is worse because of the pain and aching associated with my testicle being affected as opposed to just the less sensitive abdominal material that would occasionally protrude though my abdominal wall. My condition is affecting my activity level. I cannot walk for extended periods of time before the aching spreads to my lower belly area causing an upset stomach and ultimately headaches. I am dealing with chaffing because of the abnormal size of my right testicle. I can no longer complete a full yoga workout, ride a bike or jog/run and this has caused my physical condition to continually decline since the surgery. I have lost notable muscle mass, flexibility and my energy level is continually lessening. I have found that doctors are more than available to talk about performing surgery, but when it comes to complications secondary to surgery and/or potential medical malpractice necessitating restorative surgery, these same doctors hide in the shadows and are tight lipped about offering aid.

Apparently there are lots of issues with these meshes. As if hernia actually disappeared from the picture and its all about meshes. It's wrong that lately all hernias are "repaired" with mesh. It should only be used in rare cases after lots of recurrences and where classic surgery is no longer an option for patient. And to be avoided in young people since long term damages can occur. There are lawsuits for a good reason and people started to learn of the dangers, but sadly not from the surgeon. Are surgeons getting any kind of monetary reward from mesh manufacturers? It looks like, since mesh repair is presented as the best option to almost every patient. It should actually be a serious questionnaire where patient's condition, age, knowledge about the both options (with or without mesh) are well understood by patient and the mesh repair to be done only if certain criteria is met. It is easy for surgeon to manipulate a patient into his preference especially when financial gain is involved. I would also not call mesh repair as hernia repair, as the tear is not stitched. It's only a cover of the rupture with a patch. And I don't understand why laparoscopy is recommended to "repair" a hernia, which is easily accessible from outside the abdominal cavity? How can a surgeon say is repairing a rupture of the peritoneum, by puncturing 3 or more holes in the peritoneum (the risk of other internal organs injury can be a plus. I do understand laparoscopy to be a better choice for interventions on organs hard to reach, to avoid large incisions, but the whole surgery -laparoscopy, general anaesthesia with intubation, CO2 introduced in abdominal cavity, chronic pain, inflammation, erosions or even serious damage of internal organs are not at all beneficial to a young patient in a good health and physical condition. It should not be recommended at all for initial repair , to leave the young patient as many chances as possible to deal easily with a potential other needed surgery, where the presence of a mesh might cause difficulties in getting the new surgery. I'm thinking what if a patient with a recent hernia repaired via laparoscopy with mesh, will need an appendicectomy? Another laparoscopy ? Other holes in his peritoneum? Which will increase the risk for other hernias? Would the previously implanted mesh cause difficulties in the new surgery? I hope the option of mesh repair as a choice for initial hernia to be reviewed and offered less frequently.

I need to hear from a doc, do you think that no human has ever had a hernia go away natually? Why do you think the body does not repair this area of the body but pretty much any other area?

29:00 how small exactly must be the tear? 🧐

Hi Dr. Towfigh. do you have any opinion on Phasix reabsorable mesh? dissolves by a year or so. thanks!

would you feel comfortable having Dr Hines at UCLA fix a hernia?

what are the options without using mesh at all, perhaps for patients with small hernia?

What do you think about the mesh got tangled up in a pancreas

I am an eighty year old female who has an extraordinary amount of allergies some of which are life-threatening my main concern is having a reaction to mesh inserted into my body. I definitely have a metal allergy as well. I have a hernia near my naval. What is your general reaction to my concern. I am wondering about bio meshes made of animal material?

Can ultrasound, ct scan, mri miss a hernia

I have a hernia on my left side i also have a aortica aneurysem can i have both sugeries done at the same time

Hi Shirin, I wonder whether you'd do mesh or suture in a tiny port site/incisional supraumbilical hernia, 1-1.5 cm, asymptomatic, in a young, non-obese and healthy patient.

Can mesh tear

It's been a while