When One Hernia Repair Isn't Enough

Tom Grogg knew something was seriously wrong. A CT scan revealed the need for a colon resection.

As a St. Peters resident, Grogg had heard good things about Ken Hacker, MD, general surgeon, from his peers and friends. Ten years earlier Dr. Hacker had done a procedure on Grogg's mother. He was impressed that Dr. Hacker followed up with him shortly after her surgery and took time to explain the details.

"You just don't forget it when a physician calls you and expresses sincere concern," says Grogg. 

Dr. Hacker successfully performed Grogg's colon resection.

Later, while trying to maintain a high fitness level for the military, Grogg energetically jumped back into his fitness routine. Between the sit-ups and the fragile post-surgical abdominal wall, Grogg presented with a ventral hernia. Dr. Hacker's partner, Jennifer Etling, MD, did a typical mesh repair to hold the wall of his abdomen.

After recovering, Grogg starting working out again. Unfortunately, this caused his hernia to reoccur.

When Grogg went back about this second hernia, Dr. Hacker suggested they do a special hernia repair typically used for complex ventral hernias. 

"Component separation therapy is a hernia repair using a large piece of allograft, or biologic mesh, to bring the separated muscles together medially (in the middle) to close the defect," says Dr. Hacker. "It's a procedure typically reserved for patients with a particularly large hernia or a history of recurrent ventral hernias. The procedure typically takes two to three and one-half hours and the patient usually stays in the hospital for two to three days. We've had great results using this procedure."

Grogg's surgery was performed at Progress West HealthCare Center.

"I live nearby and heard good things about Progress West. The care has been excellent, the food is delicious and because I value my privacy, having a private room meant a lot to me," says Grogg. "I'm glad I could have a more complex surgery done close to home."