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Complications after inguinal hernia removal

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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No matter how gentle the surgical intervention method is, surgery is surgery. To a greater or lesser extent, with any method, there is a possibility of developing complications after the removal of an inguinal hernia.

The most frequently reported:

  • Infection in the wound. Suppuration of the surgical wound. The patient takes antibiotics as a preventative or for relief.
  • Violation of the integrity of blood vessels, leading to testicular atrophy in men or problems with the reproductive system in women.
  • Swelling of the area, hematoma formation. To prevent or reduce the intensity of the process, an ice pack is placed on the operated area for a couple of hours immediately after the stitches are applied.
  • If the surgeon made a mistake, nerve damage may occur. The patient loses sensitivity in the scrotum (in men) and the inner thigh.
  • Violation of the integrity of the spermatic cord, which can lead to a man losing his reproductive abilities.
  • Relapse of the disease.
  • Deep vein thrombosis of the lower leg. This complication usually affects bedridden patients more.
  • Hydrocele of the testicle.
  • Pain.
  • Increase in temperature of the operated area.
  • Damage to the vessels of the thigh.
  • If at least one of the complications occurs, the recovery period for such a patient is extended for an indefinite period.

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Burning after inguinal hernia removal

The operation is performed and the patient begins the stage of postoperative recovery and rehabilitation. After the anesthesia has worn off, the patient begins to feel pain in the lower abdomen. A feeling of numbness is possible. From 15 to 20 percent of those operated on may feel a slight burning sensation after the removal of an inguinal hernia. If there are no other pathological symptoms, then the above factors are considered to be normal postoperative symptoms.

In some cases, after surgery, the patient experiences sensitivity disorders. Usually, the sensitivity level in such patients is restored on its own after a few weeks. In rare cases, it can take several months. Here, the individual characteristics of the person and the complexity of the surgical intervention are at work.

In addition to burning, sensitivity disorders can also manifest as numbness, tingling, increased sensitivity in one area and decreased sensitivity in another.

But it is still worth telling your doctor about your feelings. After all, a burning sensation in the wound area, against the background of other symptoms, may indicate an infection of the surgical suture. In this case, the doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics. And the sooner this is done, the less the patient's body will suffer.

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Pain after removal

It has already been said that the pain syndrome and its intensity largely depend on the chosen method of performing the operation and anesthesia. Usually, after four hours after the procedure, the patient can move independently. But at the same time, he begins to experience a nagging pain in the suture area.

Pain after removal can vary.

  • Such symptoms may indicate healing. After all, during the operation, soft tissues and nerve fibers were damaged, and the area itself became more sensitive. This pain is of a muscular or neurological nature.
  • Tissue swelling can also provoke pain.
  • Harbinger of relapse. Risk of reoperation.
  • It may "speak" of seam divergence. If this is not visually observed, it is quite possible that there is an internal divergence.
  • Error in performing resection.

Swelling after removal

A small swelling after the intervention is normal. To eliminate the development of swelling immediately after the stitches are applied to the area of manipulation, a heating pad with ice is applied.

But if swelling after hernia removal began to develop not immediately after the operation, but later, during the rehabilitation period, you should urgently consult a doctor. After all, swelling is a violation of the outflow of lymph or venous blood. But you shouldn't worry too much. Usually, such a problem is stopped quickly and without much effort.

A jockstrap, bandage or tight-fitting swimming trunks can save the situation. Underwear should be made of natural material (cotton).

The doctor may also prescribe one of the drugs with anti-edematous properties. Any antihistamine drug will do. It is usually taken one tablet every eight hours. The course of therapy takes about five days.

The anti-edema therapy protocol prescribes a medication based on vitamin D, which allows the edema to dissolve more quickly.

Temperature after inguinal hernia removal

The operation is performed, and the patient enters the rehabilitation period. But the temperature that appears after the removal of an inguinal hernia is always an unpleasant symptom, which can indicate that an infection has entered the patient's body, which has triggered the process of inflammation, and possibly suppuration.

To prevent infection and development, doctors prescribe a course of antibiotics after any operation. But if the temperature does appear, you should immediately inform your doctor. He will consider the situation and adjust the therapy.

Testicle pain after removal

Another complication of the postoperative period may be pain in the testicle after removal. The cause of such discomfort may be nerve damage, which the surgeon allowed when stopping the problem. In this case, the sensitivity of the affected area increases, leading to pain syndrome.

The pain can also be caused by swelling, which is localized in the area near the testicle. In any case, it is worth contacting a specialist for advice and eliminating the discomfort.

Hydrocele after inguinal hernia removal

Hydrocele, or as people call it, dropsy of the testicle, is one of the most frequently occurring negative consequences of surgery.

Mostly, hydrocele after inguinal hernia removal is unilateral. In this case, there is asymmetry in the size of the scrotum. But there are many cases of bilateral hydrocele. Sometimes the size of the scrotum reaches such a size that a man has problems with motor activity.

A complication in the form of hydrocele is an indication for surgical intervention. Conservative treatment is powerless in this case.

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Tumor after removal

Visually, a hernia resembles a neoplasm, which a person far removed from medicine may easily mistake for a tumor. Depending on the method of removing the problem, the patient's medical history, his physical condition and the state of the body's defenses, the likelihood of recurrence may vary.

But surgery is stressful for the body, and its recovery requires energy, which is expended by the body in increased quantities, reducing the patient’s immune status.

It is this picture of the development of the recovery period that can provoke a tumor after hernia removal. Therefore, a specialist consultation is required.

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