Major Bleed Post Minimally Invasive Surgical Repair of Inguinal Hernia

At our center, over 200 patients undergo minimally invasive repairs of inguinal hernias every year using a laparoscope and a robotic-assisted technique. In three patients who underwent a minimally invasive procedure for uncomplicated indirect inguinal hernia, the postoperative course was complicated with bleeding and required an exploratory laparotomy. Post-procedure, the patients developed tachycardia and hypotension with a drop in hemoglobin, for which the patients required surgical re-exploration in an emergent fashion. The factors leading to bleeding were analyzed and are reported herein to increase awareness and prevent the occurrence of these complications during inguinal hernia surgery.