UT Southwestern’s Hernia and Abdominal Wall Repair Program offers comprehensive evaluation and treatment of hernias and abdominal wall defects, including complex abdominal wall reconstruction

Program Overview
The program brings together experts in the following fields to provide the coordinated expertise for accurate diagnosis and surgical repair:

• GI/Endocrine surgery
• general surgery
• plastic surgery
• internal medicine
• imaging and radiology
• pediatric surgeons and specialists

The team also works with UT Southwestern physicians in other fields to manage commonly associated risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, respiratory insufficiency, steroids, wound contamination, smoking and inherited disorders such as Marfan’s syndrome.

Coordinated visits allow patients to be assessed by the team. Complete testing and imaging services are often scheduled in a centralized location during the same visit, reducing unnecessary repeat visits, scheduling and travel hassles. We also offer coordinated rehabilitation, follow-up care and patient support along with priority communication and coordination with our referring physicians.

Conditions Treated
The Hernia and Abdominal Wall Repair Program treats the following:

• congenital and acquired hernias in children and adults, including:
  • incisional
  • ventral
  • epigastric
  • umbilical
• incarcerated or non-incarcerated hernias
• blockages and strangulations
• repairs for previously unsuccessful surgeries including:
  • recurrences
  • cosmetic repairs
  • surgical side effects such as vessel or nerve damage, adhesions, or infections.

Program Services
The Hernia and Abdominal Wall Repair Program offers a full range of services:

• imaging
• diagnosis
• medical management
• temporary, non-invasive slings and treatments
• out-patient and in-patient surgical repair
• laparoscopic and open repairs
• biologic and prosthetic mesh repair
• Alpha-fetoprotein screening and ultrasound to detect and confirm omphalocele and gastroschisis
• surgery to:
  • strengthen weakened abdominal musculature due to injury or
    accident prior surgery, post pregnancy or other causes
  • correct genetic and inherited abdominal wall defects in infants and children

For more information, please read our Hernia and Abdominal Wall Repair Program FAQ sheet.

Clinical Trials
Our patients have access to promising new treatments years through phase II and III clinical trials.

For referring physicians
Referring physicians have direct access to UT Southwestern faculty through specially dedicated lines. Checks and balances are in place to ensure follow-through on paperwork to referring physicians, as well as to facilitate the easy transfer of patient records into UT Southwestern’s electronic medical records system to help avoid errors and needless duplication.