Tension-free mesh repair of inguinal hernia in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the first-line renal replacement therapy for end-stage renal failure patients in Hong Kong. Abdominal wall hernia is a common mechanical complication of PD, and early surgical repair has been advocated to reduce complications. This study aims to review the outcomes of tension-free mesh repair of inguinal hernia in PD patients. Methods: All PD patients who underwent elective repair of inguinal hernia from 2009 to 2015 were identified from a single centre for retrospective analysis. Primary outcomes included surgical complications, perioperative dialysis technique and recurrence. Results: Twenty-one patients with a total of 26 inguinal hernia repairs were included in this 7-year retrospective study. All were males, and the mean age was 68 +/- 10 years. Diabetic nephropathy (n = 9, 42.9%) and glomerulonephritis (n = 7, 33.3%) were the two most common causes of renal failure. All hernias were detected after the initiation of PD, and the mean duration of PD to hernia detection was 16 months (range 1-65 months). Lichtenstein open mesh repair was performed in all patients. Complications included seroma (n = 3, 11.5%) and ischaemic orchitis (n = 1, 3.8%). There were no mesh infection or recurrence. Twenty patients (95.2%) received intermittent peritoneal dialysis post-operatively and returned to continuous ambulatory PD in 15 to 30 days. Only one patient (4.8%) required bridging haemodialysis due to Tenckhoff catheter blockage. Conclusions: Tension-free mesh repair is associated with low morbidity and low recurrence rates in PD patients. Timely management and close collaboration with renal physicians are essential to continue PD after repair.