Open Ventral Hernia Repair ... In open hernia repair, also called herniorrhaphy, a person is given general anesthesia to sedate or help the person sleep, and this ...GeneralSurgery » Conditions&Procedures » OpenVentralHerniaRepairOpenVentralHerniaRepairInopenherniarepair,alsocalledherniorrhaphy,apersonisgivengeneralanesthesiatosedateorhelpthepersonsleep,andthisisoftenaugmentedwithepiduralanesthesiatoimproverecoverytimeandpaincontrol.Thenthesurgeonmakesanincisionontheabdomen,releasesscartissue,andmovestheherniacontents(oftenbowelorfat)backintotheabdomen,andreinforcesthemusclewallwithstitches.Usuallytheareaofmuscleweaknessisreinforcedwithasyntheticorbiologicmeshtoprovideadditionalsupporttoreducethelikelihoodofrecurrence.Mostadultsexperiencediscomfortaftersurgeryandrequirepainmedication.Vigorousactivityandheavyliftingarelimitedforseveralweeks.Thedoctorwilldiscusswhenapersonmaysafelyreturntowork.TheUCSFHerniaCenterprovidesthelatesttreatmentsforcomplexventralhernias,suchastheprogressivepneumoperitoneumprocedure,aspecializedapproachfortreatingparticularlylargeventralhernias.Ourpatientoutcomesfarsurpassthenationalaverage.PatientswithcomplexventralherniastreatedatUCSFhavearecurrencerateofapproximately18percent,comparedtoa30to40percentrecurrenceratenationally. PotentialComplicationsSurgerytorepairaventralherniaisgenerallysafeandcomplicationsareuncommon.Knowingpossiblerisksallowspatientstoreportpostoperativesymptomstotheirdoctorassoonastheyoccur.Riskofgeneralanesthesia. Beforesurgery,theanesthesiologist-adoctorwhoadministersanesthesia-reviewstherisksofanesthesiawiththepatientandasksaboutmedicalhistoryandallergiestomedications.Complicationsmostlikelyoccurinolderpeopleandthosewithothermedicalconditions.Commoncomplicationsincludenausea,vomiting,urinaryretention,sorethroat,andheadache.Moreseriousproblemsincludeheartattack,stroke,pneumonia,andbloodclotsinthelegs.Gettingoutofbedaftersurgeryandmovingassoonasthedoctorallowswillhelpreducetheriskofcomplicationssuchaspneumoniaandbloodcl