Robotic Hernia Repair Adds Relief to Retirement

10 Out of 10 – Would Recommend!

Perle Sorah is happily retired and lives in Clinton with his wife. Together they enjoy camping, kayaking and hiking. He stays active by Nordic walking, boxing and spending time doing woodworking projects. A true outdoorsman, Sorah rises at 4 a.m. to begin each day and doesn’t come in until the sun goes down.

Earlier this year, pain in his lower abdomen signaled something wasn’t right. “I had noticed a hernia on the right side, but sort of ignored it,” Sorah says. When the discomfort did not go away on its own, he knew he needed medical help. Because of his 47-year career as an X-ray tech, he knew if he went without treatment for much longer, he was in danger of a strangulated hernia.

He sought treatment with Marc Campbell, DO, board-certified general surgeon at Methodist Medical Center.

“I met with him and was very impressed,” Sorah says. “He addressed all my questions and concerns, so we scheduled the surgery.”

Dr. Campbell specializes in abdominal wall reconstruction, hernia surgery, and laparoscopic and robotic surgery. For Sorah, the surgeon performed a minimally invasive robotic repair of bilateral inguinal hernias with mesh. An inguinal hernia happens when part of the intestine pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall. The hernia creates a soft lump under the skin. While some inguinal hernias can be pushed back into the body with gentle massage and pressure, some require surgery. In these cases, without surgery, blood supply can be stopped or part of the small intestine can get stuck. That is why surgeons may insert a small piece of mesh to prevent the tissue from pushing through the muscle in the future.

New Technology

Dr. Campbell explains, “Newer technology allows patients to undergo minimally invasive procedures with much smaller incisions, about half a centimeter each, instead of one large incision closer to eight inches for open surgery.”Marc Campbell, DO, General Surgeon

By offering advanced outpatient hernia repair for patients like Sorah, Dr. Campbell reports less dependence on prescription pain medication. Sorah only took an over-the-counter pain reliever and went home on the same day as his surgery. An open surgery would have required at least a one-night stay in the hospital and additional prescription pain medication.

“The results were fantastic,” Sorah said. “I had very little pain and was walking the next day.”

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

With this innovative procedure, a surgeon uses a robotic arm to manipulate hand controls to perform an operation while viewing 3D high-resolution images on a computer screen. The high-resolution cameras and micro-surgical instruments are powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology. All surgical maneuvers are under the direct control of the surgeon and the interactive robotic arms allow for even greater dexterity than the human wrist. Dr. Campbell says that in addition to enhancing the surgeon’s movements, the benefits of robotic surgery include less pain, smaller incisions with minimal scarring and faster post-operative recovery for the patient.

Dr. Campbell confirmed that anyone who is a candidate for laparoscopic hernia repair surgery is a candidate for the robot-assisted procedure. With the additional articulation of his wrist and added visualization with the camera, he can better place the mesh, reducing any risk of recurring hernia issues for the patient.

Dr. Campbell says that Sorah “did very well and was able to get back to his activities that he enjoys. That is always our goal, to get people back to their lives.”

10/10 – Would Recommend to a Friend

Sorah says, “I followed all the instructions for lifting and whatnot. Now I am doing everything I want to do, like weed eating and mowing the yard. I am appreciative that he did what he said he would do. “Dr. Campbell was just great,” he adds. “He impressed me and I would recommend him in a heartbeat.”

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