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.

If you are undergoing treatment with anticoagulant medication certain precautions must be upheld. Often you must take a break from the anticoagulant medication.

You will be informed about this prior to your 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.

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.

The surgery will usually be performed under local anaesthesia combined with tranquillizers/analgesics given by the anaesthetic personnel. Sometimes the procedure can also be performed under general anaesthesia. The hernia is identified and a “net” is placed over the weak area. The net will be stitched on. The incision in the skin is stitched up with soluble stitches or with clips that will need to be removed by your general practitioner after 10 days.

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.

There is 8-10% risk of having chronic pain and discomfort in varying degrees.

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.

You can be discharged the same day.

Pain from the surgical area is treated with analgesics on a regular basis for a period.

We recommend that you buy over-the-counter medications such as a paracetamol product (Panodil, Pinex, Pamol) and an NSAID product (Ibuprofen, Burana), because these medications are included in the pain treatment you will need after the surgery. You will receive detailed instruction of your pain treatment before you are discharged.

As a precaution against blood clots, you will receive an injection of blood-thinning medication on the day of surgery.
This treatment may continue for some time in certain cases, depending on the extent of the procedure and individual risk factors.
If this applies to you, you will be informed before you are discharged.

If you are already on blood-thinning medication, you should follow the plan you received or were sent prior to the surgery.

Swelling of the surgical area is common. This happens because fluids accumulate in the former hernia sac. The swelling and any discolouration will gradually dissappear in 1-3 months time.

In the following period there will be no restrictions on lifting, unless the surgeon has informed you otherwise.

You should expect to be on a sick leave for at least 7-14 days after you are discharged, but you may go to work earlier if you feel well.

If you experience any issues or you have any questions, you can contact The Surgical Ward during the first 24 hours after being discharged. After 24 hours you can contact your general practitioner.