Day surgery for hernia repair
The majority of routine hernia surgery in the U.S. is day surgery (patients go home the same day as surgery) and is performed in the hospital.1 Day surgery is also known as outpatient surgery. More recently, some patients are able to have hernia surgery in an ambulatory surgical center, which is an outpatient center separate from a hospital. Currently, we perform surgery in both hospital and surgery center settings, depending on the needs of each patient.
For routine hernia surgery performed in the hospital, patients usually check in about 1-2 hours before surgery, to allow time to meet with the entire surgical team and be prepped for surgery. Most routine hernia operations take about 30 to 90 minutes depending on the type and size of hernia. After surgery, patients spend about 1-2 hours in the recovery room before leaving the hospital to continue recovering from the comfort of their homes (4.5 to 5.5 hours in total on average). Patients who are overweight (BMI > 25) may require additional anesthesia during surgery, and will have a slightly longer recovery time. For hernia surgery performed in a surgery center, overall time at the center can be reduced when compared to the hospital and is around 3-4 hours on average.2
At Boston Hernia, we strive to make the process straightforward so each patient has a smooth surgery day. We recognize how anxiety provoking surgery can be and know that the logistics can add to this feeling. We are very experienced at understanding and addressing our patients needs and delivering care in a way that is designed to work for them.
Why our patients go home the same day after hernia surgery
Our practice specializes in getting our patients home the same day, spending anywhere from 3 to 6 hours in the hospital or surgery center in total. An overnight stay is not necessary in our practice, as we find that patients do better sleeping in their own bed, ideally with family members or friends around to assist as needed.3,4 Patients who travel a long distance for the surgery often choose to stay one or two nights at nearby hotels. This location is just outside of Boston, making it easily accessible to anyone in the metropolitan Boston area.
Why would I need to stay in the hospital a few extra hours after hernia surgery?
In rare occasions, patients remain in the hospital for longer than the typical 3 to 6 hours. This extra time is spent in the recovery room, allowing the anesthesia from hernia surgery to wear off. We utilize a combination of local anesthesia, a nerve block, IV medications and sometimes inhaled anesthesia. The goal of this combination is to make our patients as comfortable as possible, both during surgery and throughout recovery, but there are potential side effects associated.
A rare side effect of the nerve block is weakness of the whole leg, requiring some additional time in the recovery area.5 This weakness typically resolves by later that evening, but sometimes can linger until the next morning. Patients who have a history of prostate issues may have difficulty voiding after surgery, which is also a potential side effect of general anesthesia for those who require it.6,7 This may prolong the hospital stay. On very rare occasions, a urinary catheter is required to aid in voiding. For the few patients that require general anesthesia, it can take longer to wake up after surgery, and therefore prolong the stay in the hospital by an hour or two.
What do patients say about surgery day?
March 15, 2025:
“..From the very first appointment, Dr. Fullington made me feel completely at ease. She has such a calm, confident presence and took the time to explain the procedure in detail, answering my questions with patience and kindness. I immediately knew I chose the best surgeon. On the day of the surgery, every member of her team was professional and compassionate. They made my experience feel smooth and stress-free. Dr. Fullington’s skill as a surgeon is truly remarkable—the procedure went perfectly, and to my surprise, I experienced minimal discomfort afterward…”
January 31, 2025:
“…Surgical team started prep within 10 minutes of arrival. Everyone was smiling and awesome. Dr. Nora then appeared personally and ran me through the upcoming procedure and exactly what to expect days and weeks afterward, along with answering last minute questions. She was a perfect combination of warm, attentive, informative and supremely confident. When she finished, I was completely relaxed and optimistic for the procedure and recovery. Her assistant Kortney was also delightfully cheerful. Everyone was so competent, friendly and calm that I dare say this whole morning was almost fun. To my amazement, they even started surgery early!! Post Surgery: Little over 90 minutes later, I was wide awake and ready to go with almost no real discomfort. Their info pack covered every detail necessary for recovery…”
December 20, 2024:
“…The entire staff at Boston Hernia has been most helpful, patient, and courteous! Scheduling was easy, and they seem to be always on time; their knowledge of insurance is extensive. The procedure went quite well and staff at the hospital were extremely helpful as well!…”
Watch Dr. Fullington explain outpatient hernia surgery on Youtube
References:
1. Berndsen F, Arvidsson D, Enander LK, Leijonmarck CE, Wingren U, Rudberg C, Smedberg S, Wickbom G, Montgomery A. Postoperative convalescence after inguinal hernia surgery: prospective randomized multicenter study of laparoscopic versus shouldice inguinal hernia repair in 1042 patients. Hernia. 2002 Jul;6(2):56-61. doi: 10.1007/s10029-002-0055-3. PMID: 12152639.
2. Shankar H, Sureshkumar S, Gurushankari B, Samanna Sreenath G, Kate V. Factors predicting prolonged hospitalization after abdominal wall hernia repair – a prospective observational study. Turk J Surg. 2021 Jun 30;37(2):96-102. doi: 10.47717/turkjsurg.2021.4961. PMID: 37275195; PMCID: PMC10233946.
3. Hidalgo NJ, Guillaumes S, Llompart-Coll MM, González-Atienza P, Bachero I, Momblán D, Vidal Ó. Outpatient Surgery and Unplanned Overnight Admission in Bilateral Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Population-based Study. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2024 May 27;409(1):165. doi: 10.1007/s00423-024-03358-0. PMID: 38801551; PMCID: PMC11129998.
4. Kallianpur AA, Parshad R, Dehran M, Hazrah P. Ambulatory total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: feasibility and impact on quality of life. JSLS. 2007 Apr-Jun;11(2):229-34. PMID: 17761086; PMCID: PMC3015734.
5. Udo IA, Umeh KU, Eyo CS. Transient Femoral Nerve Palsy Following Ilioinguinal Nerve Block for Inguinal Hernioplasty. Niger J Surg. 2018 Jan-Jun;24(1):23-26. doi: 10.4103/njs.NJS_20_17. PMID: 29643730; PMCID: PMC5883846.
6. Blair AB, Dwarakanath A, Mehta A, Liang H, Hui X, Wyman C, Ouanes JPP, Nguyen HT. Postoperative urinary retention after inguinal hernia repair: a single institution experience. Hernia. 2017 Dec;21(6):895-900. doi: 10.1007/s10029-017-1661-4. Epub 2017 Sep 4. PMID: 28871414; PMCID: PMC6178811.
7. Croghan SM, Mohan HM, Breen KJ, McGovern R, Bennett KE, Boland MR, Elhadi M, Elliott JA, Fullard AC, Lonergan PE, McDermott F, Mehraj A, Pata F, Quinlan DM, Winter DC, Bolger JC, Fleming CA; RETAINER I Study Group of the Irish Surgical Research Collaborative. Global Incidence and Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Urinary Retention Following Elective Inguinal Hernia Repair: The Retention of Urine After Inguinal Hernia Elective Repair (RETAINER I) Study. JAMA Surg. 2023 Aug 1;158(8):865-873. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.2137. Erratum in: JAMA Surg. 2023 Oct 1;158(10):1116. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.4178. PMID: 37405798; PMCID: PMC10323764.