Hernia surgery at Spire Dunedin Hospital

Spire Dunedin Hospital is a well-established private hospital in Reading. We take pride in delivering a high standard of care to our patients in the local area and the surrounding Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire counties.

Our consultants have wide experience in performing hernia repair surgery. They’ll offer you a treatment and recovery plan that’s tailored to you. With fast access to tests, scans and treatments, we can help relieve your symptoms and get you back to your everyday activities.

We offer a variety of techniques for inguinal hernia surgery. The treatments available to you will depend on the type, size and location of your hernia and your general health. Your consultant will discuss which option is best for you.

Trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy (TAPP)

A keyhole procedure where your surgeon inserts a camera and the surgical instruments required for the repair into your abdominal cavity. The weakened area of your abdomen is strengthened using a mesh insert which is glued or stapled in place. This procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic, so you’ll be asleep.

Totally extra-peritoneal laparoscopy (TEP)

A keyhole procedure more recently adopted, where your surgeon repairs your hernia without needing to cut into the lining covering your abdominal organs (ie the peritoneum). Mesh is used to repair and strengthen the weakness in your abdominal wall. This procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic, so you’ll be asleep.

Lichtenstein tension-free mesh repair

An open surgery technique which has the possibility of being performed with either local or spinal anaesthetic. This means you’ll be awake but unable to feel pain in the area being operated on. Mesh is used to repair and strengthen the weakness in your abdominal wall.

ONSTEP technique

An open surgery technique, where the surgeon repairs your hernia from outside the lining covering your abdominal organs. The weakness is repaired with mesh. This will be carried out either under local anaesthetic (where you’ll be awake but won’t be able to feel pain in the area being operated on) or general anaesthetic (where you’ll be asleep).

Getting here

Spire Dunedin Hospital is conveniently situated close to the heart of Reading, on the A4 Bath Road. We’re a short walk from Reading West station and a 10 minute taxi ride from Reading mainline station with direct trains to and from London. We have free on-site parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultation

You’ll meet your chosen consultant in one of our 15 private consultation rooms. They’ll discuss:

• Your symptoms and medical history
• How inguinal hernia surgery is performed
• The specific procedure they recommend for your needs
• The type of anaesthetic you’ll require – either a general anaesthetic (where you’ll be asleep) or a local or spinal anaesthetic (where you’ll be awake but unable to feel anything in the area being operated on)
• The potential benefits and risks of the procedure

Your consultant may need you to have additional tests or scans before they can recommend the next steps. Sometimes, particularly if you need a general anaesthetic, you may need to have a pre-operative assessment to check your fitness and overall health before the procedure.

Your visit

Usually, you can leave hospital on the same day as your surgery. You may need to stay overnight if you have other medical conditions or live alone. If so, you’ll have one of our 32 en-suite private rooms, which will have:

• En-suite bathroom
• Window
• Television
• Guest seating

If you’re able to go home on the same day, you can relax in a day case pod until you’re ready to leave – usually for about four hours after surgery.

The operation

During the operation, you’ll have either:

• A general anaesthetic, meaning you’ll be asleep – usually required for keyhole (laparoscopic) procedures
• A spinal or local anaesthetic, meaning you’ll be awake but unable to feel anything in the region being operated on – this is usually used for open hernia repair surgery

Hernia repair surgery normally takes less than one hour.

Pain management

After your operation, you’ll probably feel some pain or discomfort – this is normal after surgery. Our nursing team will give you painkillers to help you with this.

Your recovery

Your consultant will provide you with your expected recovery timeline. You should be back to most activities within two weeks of keyhole surgery and four weeks after an open repair. You can usually drive after a week. You’ll return for a check-up appointment with your consultant around four weeks after your operation. As a guide, here’s a typical recovery timeline for hernia repair: