Fox Cities News

Bob Clark, a 64-year-old resident of Waupaca, is once again enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and kayaking. This change came after he underwent a hernia operation that alleviated the pain hindering his active lifestyle. The hernia surgery was performed by Dr. Annie Zeug, a general surgeon with ThedaCare and Surgical Associates of Neenah.

Reflecting on his experience, Clark said, “I was helping my brother-in-law out in Washington State move some heavy equipment and that might have done it.” He described the pain as unpleasant and realized it might be another hernia issue, following two similar surgeries in the 1990s.

While seeking medical advice for an unrelated diabetic foot problem, Clark consulted an emergency room doctor about his abdomen pain. “I was in the ER for my diabetic foot and I asked the doctor a couple of questions,” Clark stated. The doctor confirmed Clark's suspicions of a hernia.

Clark delayed surgery due to a rafting trip in Colorado and an infection related to his diabetic condition. Once these were resolved, Dr. Zeug and her surgical team at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca treated Clark’s inguinal hernia using robotic-assisted surgery.

Dr. Zeug explained, “Bob had an inguinal hernia that had been increasingly bothersome to him over the last year, both causing a noticeable bulge and pain.” The operation’s objective was to enable Clark to regain his active lifestyle. Regarding the procedure, Dr. Zeug added, “This was especially problematic with physical activities because he is an active person.”

The surgical technique employed was ThedaCare’s da Vinci surgical system, which Dr. Zeug heralded, “It’s important to provide robotic surgery access to our rural communities.” This method aims to reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for care, thereby aiding their recovery by keeping them close to home and family.

Clark expressed appreciation for Dr. Zeug’s approach, “She’s very nice. She answered all my questions and she told me the surgery was going to be robotic.” He mentioned the recovery was much more manageable compared to his previous surgeries. “I was prepared to be basically bedridden and in excruciating pain whenever I had to get up, and it really wasn’t like that at all.”

Dr. Zeug emphasized, “Patients like Bob benefit from the support of our multidisciplinary surgical team that works with them from pre-operative consultations to surgery and recovery.”

Clark, who was discharged the same day of the surgery, encouraged others with similar hernia issues to seek medical help promptly, noting, “A hernia doesn’t get better on its own.”

Dr. Zeug advised individuals with hernia concerns to explore ThedaCare’s surgical care options, highlighting the potential benefits of robotic-assisted surgery, including smaller incisions and potentially shorter recovery times.