Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: analysis of early 58 patients

Objective: To report our experience with laparoscopic total extra-peritoneal (TEP) inguinal herniorrhaphy at our institution. Methodology: This retrospective study was carried out from 1st January 2007 to 31st December 2010 at Department of General Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, Pakistan. It included 58 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic TEP repair of inguinal hernia at our unit. Results: All patients were male with a mean age of 46 years (range 25 to 67). During the study period, 69 laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs were performed in 58 patients. Bilateral hernia repair was done in 19% (n=11). Of the 69 procedures; 12% repairs (n=7) were done for recurrent hernias. In 20% of the patients, the procedure was performed as a day case surgery. Minor complications occurred in 32% of patients, whereas major complication occurred in two patients who developed recurrence in the immediate post operative period. The median time to normal physical activity was 8-11 days for unilateral and 11-16 days for bilateral hernia repair. Conclusion: Laparoscopic TEP herniorrhaphy is good alternative to open hernia repair. However, further studies are needed to strengthen this conclusion. (Rawal Med J 2013; 38:290-293).