Hernia surgery
Preparation – Hernia:
- Fasting 6 hours before surgery. Usually from midnight before surgery. (Do not eat solid foods or drink fluids)
- Shower the night before surgery and also on the morning of surgery. Wash with plain soap.
- Painkillers: 1 hour before the operation , take the painkillers Panodil, Paracetamol or Paratabs 500 mg. If you weigh less than 70 kg then 2 tablets and otherwise 3 tablets.
- For infection prevention reasons, do not moisturise the surgical area or apply depilatory cream/wax to the surgical site one week before surgery. If hair needs to be shaved from the surgical area, this is done at the beginning of surgery by operating room staff.
- No creams or skin emollients should apply to the surgery area on the day of surgery.
- Avoid use of anticoagulants such as acetylsalesylic acid (Asperine, codeimagnyl, Heart magnyl, etc.) and any NSAIDs (e.g. Ibufen, Ibumetin, Naprox, Voltaren, Vostar) for at least 5 days prior to surgery. Fish oil and omega fatty acids are blood-thinning and should be stopped one week before surgery. If you are taking the medicine Warfarin (Kovar/Waran/Dicumarol) you must stop taking it 6 days before surgery or be given special instructions. The same goes for medications; Grepid, Clopidrogel and Plavix which are anticoagulants. Patients taking antihypertensive and/or cardiac medicinal products are advised to take them on the morning of surgery with a sip of water. The use of a contraceptive or menopausal pill does not need to be stopped. People with diabetes who are using insulin need to talk to their anaesthetist a few days before the operation (tel. 590 9213).
- The operating room has locked compartments for valuables/telephones etc. Skurðstofan ehf does not guarantee any loss or possible damage to personal effects. The use of smartphones during recovery is prohibited. All recording/distribution of audio and video from the operating theatre as well.
- Upon arrival at the operating theatre, you will meet with a surgeon and anesthesiologist who will explain the main aspects of the procedure and advise on aftercare. You get a gown and disposable underwear to wear and draw on your skin. All patients must sign informed consent prior to the procedure.
- If you have known allergies to medicines, patch, iodine etc. it must appear before the operation.
- The Icelandic Health Insurance (SÍ) pays for the operation mostly for those with health insurance in Iceland. Payment is collected for the operation. You can pay by credit card or credit card, but not by bill.
After the procedure: hernia repair is performed under general anaesthesia or ultrasound anaesthesia in combination with an intravenous relaxant. After surgery, you will be able to recover in the recovery unit for 1-2 hours. Or until you feel comfortable and an anesthesiologist gives permission for you to go home. Someone has to pick you up after the operation. Patients are not considered fit to drive until the following day. It is advisable that patients do not stay alone first after returning home.
Diet: You can eat all normal foods, but it's a good idea to eat high-fiber foods (wheat bran, vegetables and fruits) and drink well to keep your stools soft, thus avoiding constipation. Constipation increases the likelihood that the repair will give way after surgery.
Packaging: A watertight dressing is placed over the wound. You can shower the day after the operation.
Pain: During the first few days, you can expect discomfort in the surgery area. It is advisable to use painkillers if needed and are available without a prescription at pharmacies (Paratabs/Paracetamol/Panodil 500 mg 2 tbl up to 4 times daily) or with a prescription (Parkodine 2 tbl x 2-4/day).
Exercise/exercise: All exercise is good, but take it easy for the first few days. Beware of exercising your abdominal muscles and avoid heavy lifting for at least 4 weeks after surgery. Any pushing that increases the pressure in the abdomen is undesirable during the first 4 – 8 weeks after surgery while the hernia and surgical wounds are healing.
Complications: Bleeding into the surgical wound may occur. When bleeding usually occurs, pain occurs and the wound bulges out, and over time bruising occurs in and below the wound. Infections may occur with abnormal pain and fever and redness. If men have swollen testicles after a hernia surgery or if bleeding or infection is suspected, contact your doctor. Numbness initially occurs around the surgical wound and may in rare cases persist. If the repair does not hold, the hernia returns, causing bulges and pain in the surgery area.
Work: Absences from work are individual, depending on the scope of each person's activity and work. It is not unusual to be off work two to four weeks after the operation and longer in certain cases. Certificates for work are given upon re-entry which is normally after 1-2 weeks.
Success: The best results for hernia surgery are always during the first operation. In the case of reoperation, the results are inferior, with a higher recurrence rate. Under the best possible conditions, the recurrence rate of hernias is expected to be 3-15%.
