How keyhole femoral hernia surgery is carried out

This animation will show how a femoral hernia forms and how its treated with keyhole surgery. A separate animation shows open surgery. Click the navigation arrows below the animation screen to play, pause, rewind or fast-forward the animation. This animation contains sound.

Here we show the small bowel, abdomen and abdominal muscles. A femoral hernia is a lump that forms in the groin at the top of the thigh It occurs when part of the contents of the abdomen, such as a bit of fat or part of the intestine (bowel), pushes through a weakness in the abdominal wall into the femoral canal. The femoral canal is a passage at the top of the front of the thigh. It runs next to the blood vessels as they pass down from the abdomen into the thigh. Here we show the femoral hernia forming.

The aim of a hernia repair operation is to push the abdominal contents back in place and strengthen the weakness of the abdominal wall. You will be given a general anaesthetic. This means you will be asleep during the operation and feel no pain.

Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, some small cuts (1 to 2cm long) will be made in your lower abdomen and groin for the keyhole instruments. Here we show you where the cuts will be made. A telescopic camera will be inserted through one of the cuts. Your surgeon will look through this and the image will probably be projected onto a video screen.

Other keyhole instruments will also be passed through the cuts. The contents of the hernia will be pushed back in place. Your surgeon may stitch a synthetic mesh over the weak spot to strengthen the abdominal wall.

The cuts will be closed, with adhesive strips called Steristrips. This is the end of the animation. Click on the animation screen to watch it again.