Montefiore Nyack Offers Free Hernia Screenings

Nyack, N.Y. March 14, 2023 – Montefiore Nyack Hospital is hosting a free hernia screening on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at The Ambulatory Surgery Center located at 160 N. Midland Avenue in Nyack. At this free-of-charge event, which should take approximately 10-15 minutes, a board-certified physician will take a medical history and perform a physical exam to diagnose a hernia.

A hernia is a tear or defect in the abdominal wall that allows part of an internal organ, such as the intestines, to bulge out. You may be able to see the hernia, depending on its location and size. A hernia may cause aching pain in the area; a feeling of pressure; a tugging sensation; and pain that worsens with activities that add pressure to the area, such as heavy lifting, pushing and straining.

Hernias tend to grow larger and cause symptoms over time, and most need to be surgically repaired. The main types of hernia repair include:

Inguinal hernia: A procedure to repair a hernia in the groin area

Ventral hernia: A procedure to repair a hernia in the abdominal wall
                                                                                                                                    

If a hernia is detected at the screening, the surgeon will discuss available treatment options. When surgery is needed, many patients at Montefiore Nyack Hospital are treated with robotically-assisted laparoscopic surgery, using the da Vinci Surgical System. Screening attendees can see a demonstration of how minimally invasive hernia surgery is done using the surgical system’s robotic-assisted technology.

“Robotically-assisted surgery has a number of advantages over other types of hernia surgery, including a shorter recovery, less or no opioid medication, and a quicker return to normal activities,” said Lee Fleischer, M.D., F.A.C.S., Director of Surgery at Montefiore Nyack Hospital, and one of the doctors who will be on hand to perform the screenings.

Registration for the free hernia screening is required. Space is limited. Appointments are strongly encouraged. To reserve your spot at the free hernia screening, visit https://www.montefiorenyack.org/hernia-screening.