Comparison of Open and Laparoscopic Surgical Techniques now under way at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which is staffed by UT Southwestern physicians. But many surgeons are divided in their allegiance to a specific procedure. Two studies at UT Southwestern aim to clarify some of the controversies surrounding hernia repair. An inguinal hernia is an abnormal space between the abdominal cavity and the groin. This weakness can be worsened by such things as heavy lifting, coughing or constipation.
Inguinal hernia is one of the most common problems treated by general surgeons.
In order to repair Kidd's hernia, Kim's team conducted an open operation. Surgeons buttressed the weakness in the abdominal wall with prosthetic mesh, which was sewn to the outside of the defect. Conversely, Steve Lunsford, a retired Air Force human-resources specialist who participated in the same study, underwent laparoscopic hernia repair surgery. We believe that hernia repair by both the open and laparoscopic techniques have acceptably low recurrence rates. Whether one technique is superior though is unknown.