The Burnia: Laparoscopic Sutureless Inguinal Hernia Repair in Girls

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in children is in evolution. Multiple methods of passing the suture around the peritoneum at the level of the internal inguinal ring exist. Cauterization of the peritoneum at the internal ring is thought to increase scarring and decrease recurrence. We have employed a sutureless, cautery only, laparoscopic single port repair of inguinal hernias and patent processus vaginalis (PPV) in girls.

After institutional ethical review was obtained, a retrospective review of sutureless laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs in girls by 4 surgeons at separate institutions was performed. Patient demographics, intraoperative findings, and postoperative outcomes were recorded and analyzed. The technique involves an umbilical 30° camera and either a separate 3 mm stab incision in the midclavicular line or a 3 mm Maryland grasper placed next to the camera, and the distal most portion of the hernia sac is grasped and pulled into the abdomen and cauterized obliterating the sac.

Eighty inguinal hernias were repaired using this technique in 67 girls between July 2009 and September 2015. The ages and weights ranged from 1 month to 16 years and from 2 to 69 kg, respectively. There was one conversion to open approach because an incarcerated ovary was too close to the ring. A single umbilical incision was utilized in 85%. Fifty-seven percent patients had hernias on the right whereas 42% had hernias on the left. Of the patients with presumed unilateral hernias, 22 patients were found to have PPV and were treated through the same incisions, 17/22 were found during a contralateral hernia surgery and 5/22 were found incidentally during appendectomy. Average operative time for unilateral and bilateral hernias was 22 minutes (5-38 minutes) and 31 minutes (11-65 minutes), respectively. No patient required a hospital stay because of the hernia repair. At an average of 25 months follow-up (1.6-75 months), there were no recurrences. The only complication was a single lateral port site hernia on a 2 kg, former 24 week postmenstrual age girl before adapting the technique to single-site surgery for all.

Laparoscopic sutureless inguinal hernia repair is safe and effective in girls of all ages. The single-site modification allows for superior cosmetic result and lower complication profile. The Burnia allows for adequate treatment of unilateral and bilateral inguinal hernias with a single incision in the umbilicus.