Surgeon fights Australia’s
hernia problem
A Brisbane surgeon is calling for more help to tackle a common
side effect of Australia’s obesity epidemic: abdominal hernias.
Dr Kellee Slater runs a unique abdominal hernia unit at
Greenslopes Private Hospital; she is one of only a few surgeons
in Australia addressing the problem of hernia and excess skin at
the same time.
Dr Slater explains that abdominal hernias have become more
prevalent and more difficult to fix because of the risks involved
in operating on these patients.
“Frequently, hernia patients have been through very traumatic
illnesses. Once you see the pictures, you can only imagine how
these people manage to live day to day. They often need help
to walk and go to the bathroom”.
A major abdominal hernia occurs when there is a defect in the
muscles of the abdominal wall from previous surgery.
“The bigger the hernia gets, the more debilitating it will become.
A hernia an only be fixed with surgery and this is done by bringing
the muscles back together and reinforcing them with mesh.”
Dr Slater said data from Australia’s private sector shows how
much the problem has increased – from 5,306 incisional hernia
repairs in 1993 to 16,514 in 2015.
One of the likely reasons for this is Australia’s obesity epidemic.
8 | GPH News – October 2017
“My patients need significant support to lose weight and keep
it off so this does not keep happening. If they don’t, the current
statistics show that 30% of hernias recur after the first repair, and
40% after the second repair. 25% of all incisional hernia repairs
require repeat operation.”
Dr Slater said it can take her 6 months to prepare a patient for
surgery, and the operation itself lasts 3 to 4 hours.
“The operations to repair these hernias and remove excess skin
can be high risk in the short term, but the improvement in daily
function and quality of life, gives patients the boost they need
to live their life better and continue their weight loss journey.”
“I need the issues to be publicised and for the health system
to take these patients seriously. Many of these patients have been
told they are not fixable – but this is almost never true.”
“I love working with hernia patients. It is the most satisfying
thing I do. The surgery is complex and physically difficult,
but the rewards for the patients make it so worthwhile.”
Dr Slater normally carries out one or two of these surgeries per
week at Greenslopes Private Hospital.
“I love an underdog and this is the most underestimated problem
in all of general surgery. My training in complicated liver surgery
is perfect for looking after these high risk patients and my unit
has developed the experience and results to show that I can get
good results.”
Before
After