Get information about professional education and MIP training programs. About 10% of the U.S. population suffers from GERD. View animation of an MIP ventral hernia repair vs. an open procedure "Since the first report of [LVHR] in 1992, the operation has grown in popularity with the belief that it may offer shorter hospital stays, improved patient outcomes, and fewer complications than traditional open procedures. Several comparative studies are now available that support this assertion." Annals of Surgery. 2003;238:391-400. (Heniford, 2003, p. 391)