Inguinal Hernia: Laparoscopic or Open Surgery?

Background: Today, mesh repair is the preferred technique ill surgery of inguinal hernia. Whether the mesh should be placed laparoscopically or by open techniques is still controversial. Methods: A comparison of open mesh and laparoscopic techniques was made With the help of meta-analyses and prospective trials. Outcome variables analysed were recurrence, chronic pain, recovery, morbidity and costs. Results: With regard to recurrence rates, both techniques gave comparable results. The laparoscopic technique shows advantages in terms of morbidity, recovery and especially a lower rate of chronic pain. Open mesh repair has the advantage of a lower risk of some rare severe intra-abdominal complications and seems to be more cost-effective. Conclusion: Both techniques of inguinal hernia repair are effective and safe. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, today no single technique can be recommended as a gold standard.