Laparoscopic treatment (reTAPP) for recurrence after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair

For inguinal hernia recurrences, the European Hernia Society guidelines recommend laparo-endoscopic repair (LR) following a previous open surgery (OS) and, conversely, OS following previous laparo-endoscopic repair. Laparoscopic treatment of recurrences after previous LR is controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety, feasibility, and reliability of a repeated transabdominal preperitoneal laparoscopic repair (reTAPP) for a recurrent hernia.

We analyzed and compared a series of patients with recurrent inguinal hernia after LR who underwent repair by a conventional approach with similar patients who underwent reTAPP between January 2010 and December 2018.

Between January 2010 and December 2018, 2488 transabdominal preperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia (TAPP) repairs were performed. Recurrence was observed in 46 (1.8%). Of these patients, 18 (39%; Group 1; G1) underwent conventional open repair (Lichtenstein technique) and 28 (61%; Group 2; G2) reTAPP. In G2, repair was successful in 24 patients (86%); however, four cases (14%) needed conversion to OS because of technical difficulties. Two patients re-recurred (4.3%), one in G1 which was resolved in a third approach with a reTAPP and the other in G2 which was resolved with OS.

ReTAPP surgery for recurrences after previous TAPP repair proved to be safe and was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay and morbidity and recurrence rates comparable to OS at a highly specialized center. Randomized studies with a larger number of cases are necessary to confirm these findings and draw more robust and objective conclusions.