Northern Israel Hospital Launches Advanced Complex Hernia Treatment Service

The North Medical Center (formerly Poriya) has expanded its abdominal wall surgery department to offer advanced treatment for large, recurrent, and complex hernias. This new service aims to provide local residents with specialized care close to home, eliminating the need to travel to distant medical centers.

The service is led by Dr. Alaa Krouani, a 37-year-old surgeon who recently returned from a fellowship in Milan, Italy, specializing in abdominal wall surgery. The department will handle cases requiring complex planning, including recurrent hernias, large hernias, and those developing in surgical scar areas, as well as situations demanding extensive abdominal wall reconstruction.

Treatment approaches are personalized, with options including open, laparoscopic, or robotic surgery, depending on the patient's condition, hernia type, and previous surgeries. The center is also introducing innovative preparatory methods for complex cases, such as Botox injections to temporarily relax abdominal muscles and gradual pneumoperitoneum to expand the abdominal cavity before surgery. Additionally, the service utilizes the Fasciotens system for controlled tension on abdominal wall tissues to aid in closure.

The department has also established a dedicated abdominal wall clinic for new patient consultations and follow-up care. In suitable cases, the service offers open hernia repair under local anesthesia, particularly beneficial for elderly patients or those with underlying health conditions who wish to avoid general anesthesia. This expansion reflects the hospital's commitment to providing high-level public healthcare and reducing medical disparities for residents in northern Israel.