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Surgeons modify approach to traumatic hernia repair

Moustafa Hassan, MDHernias -- potentially dangerous openings in the abdominal wall -- can result from car accidents and other injuries, and their treatment has changed in the past decade, says Moustafa Hassan, MD, director of acute care surgery at Upstate. Patients with traumatic hernias were once rushed to surgery, Hassan says, in contrast to the current “damage control” strategy, which aims to stabilize the patient first, often letting surgery come later. Being at Upstate University Hospital, the region's Level 1 Trauma center, with enormous exposure to complex and abdominal trauma and wounds, helps shape the way care options are addressed. "We offer individualized treatment of different types of hernias based on each patient's specific need and circumstance," he explains. Hassan also talks about the factors that influence surgery, including smoking and obesity.

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