Surgical technique for primary perineal hernia repair: a systematic scoping review

A perineal hernia is a subtype of pelvic floor hernias, and especially primary perineal hernias are rare. No guideline exists on how to handle this type of hernia. Therefore, the primary aim of this scoping review was to investigate the surgical treatment options in adults for primary perineal hernias.

This systematic scoping review included studies with original data on at least one adult operated for a primary perineal hernia. Studies from 1990 and forward were included to cover contemporary surgical techniques. Three databases were systematically searched: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL. Furthermore, a snowball search was performed. The primary outcome was to narratively present details about the surgical techniques. The secondary outcomes were to give an overview of symptoms, diagnostics, intraoperative complications, and postoperative course.

Twenty-two case studies reported repairs on 22 patients suffering from primary perineal hernia. Common symptoms were pain and discomfort, and a bulge was often found during physical examination. Different diagnostic methods were used, and MRI-scans most often found an abnormality. Different surgical procedures can repair the condition, however, laparotomy and the use of a permanent mesh was the most common option. Far from all studies reported on outcomes, but no severe intraoperative event was reported, and the postoperative course was overall uneventful.

Primary perineal hernia is a very rare condition presenting with pain/discomfort and bulging and it can be visualized with different imaging modalities. Laparotomy with a permanent mesh was often used for repair, and the postoperative course was mostly uneventful.