Do not take any alternative/herbal medicine during the last two weeks before the surgery.

Hair in the surgical area must be removed before your surgery. The hair on both thighs must be removed, both on the front and back because surgical equipment will be attached there. Keep in mind to remove the hair from 5 centimeters below your pubic hair.

The hair removal must be done 1 week before your scheduled surgery using a hair trimmer or the like.

• You must not use a razor when removing the hair, and we do not expect a clean-shaven surgical area.
• If you do not have a hair trimmer or there is less than 1 week until your surgery from your preliminary examination, the hair removal can be done in the ward when you show up to your scheduled surgery.

On the day of the surgery you must be fasting and thirsting as agreed upon with the Anaesthesiology Outpatient Clinic – see the materials provided from there.

You must make sure to wash yourself thoroughly before your surgery to prevent infections. It is important to reduce the number of bacteria on your skin before your surgery.

Before your shower you must:

• Take off all your jewelry (including rings)
• Remove nail polish on hands and feet
• Clean your nails thoroughly
• Remove piercings

How to wash yourself:

• Rinse your entire body
• Wash your hair with soap
• Wash your face and neck with soap
• Wash your upper body
• Wash thoroughly under your arms
• Wash your navel thoroughly with water and soap - use a cotton bud to make sure all dirt is removed
• Wash thoroughly around your genital area
• Wash your legs and feet
• Rinse your entire body under running water
• Dry off and put on clean clothes

Do not apply cream after your shower. It will lessen the effects of the skin desinfectant which is applied before your surgery.

When you arrive at the ward the staff will make sure your personal hygiene is all right.

If you have bandages these will need to be changed before your surgery just like a potential catheter bag needs to be changed. This should be done in connection with your shower or immediately before your surgery.

If you are hospitalised you must bring your own medicine to the hospital in its original packaging. This includes if you are hospitalised in relation to having received a letter from the hospital and if you are hospitalsed by your general practitioner. Optionally, a relative can come by with your medicine.

If you take medicin that is packed in doses from the pharmacy, you must bring this in its original packaging as well.

The staff will ask to see your medicine.

Read more at www.egenmedicin.rm.dk.

When you arrive for your scheduled surgery you must scan your social security card at the stand and take a seat in the waiting area. The staff will get you organized and ready for the surgery.

As waiting time may occur from the reporting time to the surgery, it may be a good idea to bring reading material or the like.

Tell the staff if there is anything from your preparations that you may have had trouble doing.

The surgery is performed using thin laparoscopic instruments through small incisions of 5-12 mm, usually 3-6 different places in the abdomen.

Any adhesions that may occur up against the hernia will be detached and a “net” will be inserted to cover the weak area – and here, usually four small incisions will keep the net in place during the surgery. The net is attached with titanium screws and/or stitched and glued.

The small incisions in the skin will be stitched together with soluble stitches.

The surgery will be performed under general anaesthesia.

At any kind of surgery bleeding and infection can occur (<1-3%). After having a hernia surgery, regardless which type, there will always be a risk that the hernia can reoccur – but the risk is reduced by using net.

It is important that you get out of bed after the surgery, and that you are fully ambulant, in order to avoid complications such as thromboses in legs and lungs and pneumonia. This is done through cooperation between you and the staff. We recommend you stay active during your hospitalisation and when you come home.

There is a small risk of damaging the colon or other internal organs which at worst may lead to a temporary ostomy, but this rarely happens.

Often there will be swelling in the surgical area. This may be caused by fluids in the former hernia sac. This will gradually disappear in 1-3 months.

During the first few hours after the surgery you will be in The Post Anestesia Care Unit. Afterwards you will be moved to The Surgical Ward.

If your hernia is small and you are well after the surgery you can stay the night in The Post Anesthesia Care Unit and be discharged from there the next day.

It is important that you start eating and drinking again immediately after the surgery, even though you are tired and nauseas the first couple of days.

Eat and drink as you usually do. Drink plenty and eat high-protein foods.

Discomfort may occur such as pain in the shoulders, other kinds of pain, nausea and bloating - if you experience any of the above, please notify the staff so they can help you.

After the surgery you will be taking analgesics on a regular basis for a period, and after some time this will gradually be reduced.

You may expect to need strong analgesics for a period after the surgery.

To prevent against thromboses you will be given an injection of anticoagulants (blood thinner) on a daily basis in a period of 6-28 days.

If you are already on blood thinning medicines, you must follow the medicine plan that you have received prior to your surgery.

You will need to come in for a check up 1 month after the surgery.

You will receive an invitation in E-boks.

You are welcome to give The Surgical Ward a call if you have issues or questions during the first 24 hours after you are discharged. Afterward you have to contact your general practitioner.