Hello dianemp,
So your husband had the so called INGUINAL HERNIA. If the hernia is not giving any discomfort, a watch-and -wait approach is the usual recommendation. However, if there is pain and discomfort, it needs to be assessed and treated before complications could set in.
Ifever there is a recurrence of his hernia, a laparoscopic hernioplasty (if he is a candidate for this procedure) may be the best surgical repair you are looking for. Incisions are very small and operation is done with a fiber-optic tube guided with a video camera. Most who had this surgery can return to work in few days after the operation. But such operation may not be suitable for those who had large hernia,those who had parts of intestine pushed in the scrotum or those who had pelvic surgery for prostatectomy.
This link has more information: GO HERE.
Take care!