Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Laparoscopic Repair of Para-Esophageal Hernia Using Absorbable Biosynthetic Mesh
Published on: September 11, 2021
Inguinal hernioplasty in children-open or laparoscopic?: A retrospective cohort study of 1,072 cases
Ágnes Eszter Tímár1,2, Dalma Bénes3, András Terebessy4
1Heim Pál National Pediatric Institute, Üllői Út 86, Budapest, 1089, Hungary. timar.agnes95@gmail.com.
Insights
Open hernia repair (OHR) and Percutaneous Internal Ring Suturing (PIRS) show similar safety and effectiveness for pediatric inguinal hernias. Both methods had comparable complication and recurrence rates, with no significant difference in hospital stay duration.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric surgery
- Surgical innovation
- Hernia repair techniques
Background:
- Inguinal hernioplasty is the most common childhood surgery.
- The laparoscopic approach's benefits remain debated.
- Comparing open hernia repair (OHR) with Percutaneous Internal Ring Suturing (PIRS) is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the safety and efficacy of OHR and PIRS in pediatric inguinal hernia repair.
- To evaluate outcomes including hospital stay, complications, and recurrence rates.
- To assess the identification of contralateral patent processus vaginalis with PIRS.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study (2013-2021) of pediatric patients (<18 years) undergoing inguinal hernioplasty.
- Analysis of 1,072 surgeries (836 OHR, 236 PIRS).
- Key metrics: contralateral patent processus vaginalis, hospital stay, complications, and recurrences.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in complication rates (5/836 OHR vs. 1/236 PIRS, p=0.86).
- No significant differences in recurrence rates (15/836 OHR vs. 7/236 PIRS, p=0.22).
- Average hospital stay was similar (1.3 days OHR vs. 1.13 days PIRS, p=0.82). PIRS identified contralateral patent processus vaginalis in 22.45% of unilateral cases.
Conclusions:
- Both OHR and PIRS are equally safe and effective for pediatric inguinal hernia repair.
- No statistically significant differences were found in hospital stay, recurrence, or complication rates.
- PIRS offers valuable insights into contralateral patent processus vaginalis in initially unilateral cases.
Purpose:
The most common surgical intervention in childhood is inguinal hernioplasty. The advantage of laparoscopic approach is still questionable, therefore our aim was to compare open hernia repair (OHR) and PIRS (Percutaneous Internal Ring Suturing) technique at the authors' institute.
Methods:
An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2013 and 2021. Patients were included with hernioplasties under 18 years. The number of contralateral patent processus vaginalis, length of hospital stay, complications and recurrences were analysed.
Results:
1,072 surgeries were performed (OHR: 836, PIRS: 236) in 959 patients with the mean age of 4.2 years. During the study period 86 incarcerated hernias were treated: 85/86 following successful reduction with postponed surgery (77 open and eight PIRS) and 1/86 acute (open) surgery. Only six complications (OHR: 5, PIRS: 1, p = 0.86) and 22 recurrences were registered (open:15, PIRS: 7, p = 0.22). The average length of hospital stay was 1.13 days (OHR: 1.3, PIRS: 1.13 days, p = 0.82). PIRS identified contralateral patent processus vaginalis in 22.45% of cases initially diagnosed as unilateral.
Conclusions:
Our findings indicate that both techniques are equally safe, with no statistically significant differences observed in terms of hospital stay duration, recurrence rates, or complication rates.
