Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

[Laparoscopic surgery of the inguinal hernia].

Today we will answer the question that Urko has sent us from Hernani. He says he has a hernia or discontinuity in his groin that needs to be operated through laparoscopic surgery. Urko wants to know exactly what this operation consists of and its advantages over the usual one. A groin hernia—or a

hernia that comes out of the groin—is a part of the small intestine that comes out from some weak part of the wall of the abdomen. In the case of men, it usually comes out of the way of the blood vessels that go to the testicles. A hernia can be caused by a birth defect or by strenuous efforts. Most of the time, a lump comes out on the groin, but this lump may not appear and you may only notice discomfort during walking and exertion.

Laparoscopic surgery is performed in the operating room and requires general anesthesia. The surgeon inserts three tubes into the abdomen: one of them has a small camera connected to a television and from the other two he guides the necessary equipment to perform the operation. The objective is to return the exiting abdominal contents to their place and to strengthen the abdominal wall. For this purpose, the person's tissues or prostheses and meshes may be used.

The greatest advantage of laparoscopy is that large incisions are avoided and the patient recovers earlier due to less damage to his or her tissues and organs, less blood loss and less risk of malignant wounds.

After all, laparoscopic surgery makes it possible to spend less time in the hospital and, in most cases, the patient can return home on the same day as the operation.