[Results of laparoscopic hernioplasty. A study of 401 cases in 318 patients]

The aim of this retrospective study was to report a series of laparoscopic hernioplasty performed in two surgical centers, and to evaluate the results with a mean follow-up of 31 months.

From January 1992 to January 1997, 318 patients with 401 inguinal hernias were operated on through laparoscopy by six senior surgeons and six junior surgeons. There were 302 men and 16 women (mean age: 53 years). The operation was performed through an extra-peritoneal approach (TEP) in 298 hernias, a trans-abdomino-preperitoneal approach (TAPP) in 62 hernias, and an intra-abdominal approach (IPOM) in 41 hernias.

Conversion into open surgery was necessary in 7% of the patients. There was no postoperative death. The postoperative morbidity rate was 10%. The average hospital stay was three days. With a 1 to 5 year follow-up, 4% of the 94% of the patients who answered the questionnaire showed a recurrence (3% in the extra-peritoneal group; 4% in the trans abdomino-preperitoneal group; 10% in the intra-abdominal group).

Laparoscopic hernioplasty seems as efficient as traditional hernoplasty with the advantages of mini-invasive surgery. The extra-peritoneal approach was preferred and performed in most cases of this series. The intra-peritoneal approach was abandoned.