Totally extraperitoneal endoscopic inguinal hernia repair (TEP)

This report reviews our experience with 5,203 totally extraperitoneal (TEP) endoscopic hernia repairs performed in 3,868 patients over the 7.5-year period between May 1994 and December 2001, 34.5% of whom had bilateral hernias and 13% recurrent hernias.

We performed TEP as the method of choice in more than 92% of all the patients presenting with inguinal hernia, including those with incarcerated, strangulated, or inguinoscrotal hernias. After reduction of the hernial sac and appropriate dissection of the preperitoneal space, we placed a slit-free 10 x 15-cm polypropylene mesh without the use of staple fixation.

Altogether, 29 recurrent hernias (0.6%) were observed, more than 50% of which occurred during the first 2 years after the technique was introduced (1.8%). During subsequent years, the recurrence rate settled to approximately 0.3%. Regarding intraoperative complications, we observed eight injuries to the bladder. At this writing, no bowel injuries or damage to iliac vessels has been seen. Postoperatively, we noted only a single case of mesh infection. In 14 cases (0.4%), postoperative hemorrhage necessitated either inguinal or endoscopic reoperation. As a further major complication, a small bowel obstruction caused by inadequate closure of a peritoneal lesion occurred in two patients (0.05%). The overall reoperation rate for the 3,868 patients was 0.6%.

We consider TEP to be a procedure that carries an acceptably low complication rate, combining the advantages of minor access surgery and mesh reinforcement of the groin. This approach is associated with early postoperative return to usual activities and a very low recurrence rate.