Objective: To evaluate our experience with laparoscopic total extra-peritoneal (TEP) inguinal herniorrhaphy in terms of full recovery, return to work, complications and recurrence rate.
Duration: From 1st January 2007 to 31st December 2010.
Setting: Surgical Unit III, Department of General Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad.
Patients and Methods: We retrospectively studied a consecutive series of patients who underwent laparoscopic TEP repair of inguinal hernia at our unit. The study consisted of fifty eight patients and total extra-peritoneal (TEP) approach was used in all patients.
Results: All 58 patients were male with a mean age of 46 years (range 25 to 67 years) at the time of operation. During the study period, 69 laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs were performed in 58 patients. Bilateral hernia repair was done in 11 patients (19%). Of the 69 procedures; seven repairs (12%) were done for recurrent hernias. In 20% of the patients the procedure was completed as a day case surgery. A mean follow up of six months was obtained for 46 patients (79%). 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 a good alternative to open hernia repair. However further studies are needed to strengthen this conclusion.
Key words: Inguinal hernia, laparoscopy, total extra-peritoneal
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