Are You a Candidate for Lap Hernia?

While the benefits of lap hernia can be brought to many patients who suffer from painful hernias, a thorough evaluation by your physician and a surgeon trained in laparoscopy is the best way to determine your eligibility.

What is Endoscopic Surgery?

Explaining endoscopic surgery is best accomplished by comparing it to traditional surgery. With traditional, or “open,” surgery, the surgeon must make an incision that exposes the area of the body was the only way a surgeon could perform the procedure.

Now, Endoscopy eliminates the need for a large incision. Instead, the surgeon uses an endoscope, a thin, telescope–like instrument that provides interior views of the body.

The endoscope is inserted into the patient’s body through a small tube (called a trocar) placed in a tiny, half–inch incision. It is equipped with a tiny camera and light source that allow it to send images through a fiber optic cord to a television monitor.

Watching the monitor, the surgeon can perform procedure. The surgeon uses instruments inserted through other small tubes. Though instruments vary according to the procedure typical ones include “graspers” that manipulate tissue; scissors that cut tissue; and devices that use a laser beam or electric current to seal tissue and control bleeding.

What is chronic Viral Hepatitis?

The liver is an organ that plays an important role in managing the body’s functions including:

• Filters and detoxifies chemicals in what you eat, breathe, and absorb through the ski.
• Stores certain vitamins, minerals, sugars, and iron
• Regulates fat stores and controls production and release of cholesterol
• Destroys poisonous substances
• Changes the food you eat into energy, clotting factors, immune factors, hormones, and proteins
• Breaks down drugs and medications

What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Inflammation usually produces swelling, tenderness, and sometimes permanent damage. Hepatitis is caused by a number of things including alcohol, drugs, chemicals, and viral infections. If the inflammation of the liver continues at least six months or longer, it is called chronic hepatitis. Currently there are at least five different viruses known to cause viral hepatitis:
Viral Hepatitis A
Sometimes called "Infectious Hepatitis." It is spread by eating food or drinking water contaminated with human feces. This type of viral hepatitis is infrequently life–threatening.
Viral Hepatitis B
Sometimes called "Serum Hepatitis." It is spread from mother to child at birth or soon after, through sexual contact, contaminated blood transfusions and needles. This form of viral hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver.
Viral Hepatitis C
Formerly known as "non–A, non–B Hepatitis." This form of viral hepatitis is the most common. It can be spread through blood transfusions and contaminated needles. However, for a substantial number of patients, the cause is unknown. This form of viral hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver.
Viral Hepatitis D
This form of viral hepatitis is found most often in IV drug users who are carriers of the hepatitis B virus. It is spread only in the presence of the hepatitis B virus and is transmitted in the same way. This type of viral hepatitis occurs in people who have viral hepatitis B, and is a serious health problem.
Viral Hepatitis E
This form of viral hepatitis is similar to viral hepatitis A. It is found most often in people who live in countries with poor sanitation. It is rare in North America, and rarely life–threatening.