Dr. Ahmad has performed more than robotic surgeries, including robotic gastric bypass, robotic sleeve, robotic hernia procedure, robotic anti reflux procedure, robotic colon operations and robotic gallbladder surgery. He is recognized in Long Island as one of the most advanced robotic surgeons in the country. Dr. Ahmad founded and is the director of the Robotic and Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence at Mather Northwell Hospital. This is the only intuitive certified epicenter in Long Island for robotic bariatric surgery as of June 2020.
Hernia surgery is a common procedure for several types of hernias. The introduction of robotic hernia surgery recently became one of the most important advancement brought about by the collaboration of medicine and technology. The robotic procedure is advantageous for several reasons . It brings about several advantages that ensure the precision of the surgery, which can translate to increased success rates of the surgery.
Causes of Hernia
Hernias may develop due to increased pressure in the abdominal region of the body. In addition to this, presence of a weak spot in a tissue that lines the organ. The combination of these two is what causes hernias. Increased pressure could be caused by strenuous activities such as lifting of very heavy objects, constipation that leads to strain when emptying the bowel, or even pregnancy Coughing could also lead to the increased pressure and the weakening of the muscle which could be a condition present from birth. However, other conditions come about due to incision due to surgery and gradual weakening of the muscles due to smoking, aging, and strenuous activities.
Symptoms of Hernias
The most common symptom is a bulge in the region of the body affected. You may feel the bulge with your hand when lifting a heavy object, bending, or even standing. Other symptoms include pain in the affected region, mostly when undertaking a strenuous activity or coughing. A burning or aching sensation in the affected region is also common. It is important to note that at times there may be no symptoms in hernia cases. Therefore, an individual may not know that he has the hernia unless through a physical examination.
Treatment of Hernia
- Use of a truss (hernia belt) is rarely prescribed as it is usually ineffective. It may alleviate some discomfort, but will not prevent the possibility of bowel incarceration or strangulation.
- Most hernias require a surgical procedure.
- Surgical procedures are done in one of two fashions:
- The open surgery is done through a four-inch incision in the groin or the area of the hernia. The incision will extend through the skin, subcutaneous fat, and allow the surgeon to get to the level of the defect. The surgeon may choose to use a small piece of surgical mesh to repair the defect or hole. This technique can be done with a local anesthetic and sedation, using a spinal anesthetic or a general anesthetic.
- The laparoscopic hernia repair is done with the use of a laparoscope (a tiny telescope) connected to a special camera is inserted through a cannula, a small hollow tube, allowing the surgeon to view the hernia and surrounding tissue on a video screen. The procedure takes about 45 minutes and patients go home the same day.
In robotic assisted repair, the procedure is performed through a laparoscopic approach with small incisions but instead of using standard straight instruments, Dr Ahmad controls highly advanced computer controlled robotic arms to enhance the precision of the operation and get an enhanced 3D vision.
Robotic-assisted surgery is the best option in our opinion. However, this procedure can only be done successfully by a surgeon who has mastered the use of high-technology technique in performing surgery. Therefore, choosing your surgeon is critical.
Dr Ahmad was one of the first surgeons in Long Island to repair hernias with the help of the robot. He is recognized as one of the top surgeons in America, who specializes in minimally invasive surgery. Set a private consultation today to learn more about robotic hernia surgery.
