Ventral Hernia

Hernias most commonly develop in the abdominal wall, where an area weakens and develops a tear or hole. Abdominal tissue or part of the intestines may push through this weakened area, causing pain and potentially serious complications.

Ventral hernias are a type of abdominal hernia. They may develop as a defect at birth, resulting from incomplete closure of part of the abdominal wall, or develop where an incision was made during an abdominal surgery, occurring when the incision doesn't heal properly.

Incisional hernias can develop soon after surgery or many years later. They affect as many as 30 percent of the patients who have abdominal surgery, such as an appendectomy.

Our Approach to Ventral Hernia

UCSF offers state-of-the-art surgical repair and rehabilitation for all types of hernias, including ventral hernias. Our surgeons perform a large number of hernia repairs and are known for accepting complex, technically challenging cases. Despite this, our patient outcomes are notably better than the national average. Less than 20 percent of our ventral hernia patients have a recurrence, compared to a national average of 30 to 40 percent.

Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive approaches to hernia repair. Compared with traditional open surgery, minimally invasive surgery has significant benefits for patients, including a faster recovery, lower risk of infection, and less pain and scarring.

The treatment team includes gastrointestinal surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, wound care specialists, intensive care specialists, anesthesiologists and experts in nutritional and physical rehabilitation. In addition to caring for patients, our surgeons lead innovative research aimed at refining surgical techniques and improving the materials used in hernia repair.