Laparoscopic Management of Concomitant Inguinal Hernia and Round Ligament Cysts

To evaluate and compare the efficacy and potential side effects of transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) and total extraperitoneal repair (TEP) for inguinal hernia with mesothelial cysts of uterine round ligament (IHMCURL) repair.

Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of General Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, from January 2018 to December 2023.

Data on patient demographics, cyst characteristics, surgical duration, blood loss, postoperative pain scores, hospital stay, and occurrence of seroma were retrieved from medical charts and analysed for differences between patients who had received TAPP versus TEP.

The study population comprised 32 female patients diagnosed with inguinal hernia complicated by round ligament cysts who received surgical management, between 2018 and 2023. Of these, 17 (53.1%) patients underwent TEP repair, with the remaining 15 (46.9%) cases managed via the TAPP approach. Demographically, the patient cohorts were quite similar across both groups. Postoperative pain levels (VAS scores at 12 hours after surgery) were significantly lower in the TEP group (5.06 ± 1.676 vs. 6.20 ± 1.014, p <0.05). Hospitalisation time (1.59 ± 1.004 days vs. 2.47 ± 1.302 days, p <0.05) and the number of postoperative seromas (0 vs. 4, p <0.05) were also significantly lower in the TEP group. The mean operative time and intraoperative blood loss were comparable between the groups.

As a surgical procedure for treating IHMCURL, TEP is superior to TAPP in terms of postoperative pain, length of hospital stay, and the incidence of postoperative seroma. Perhaps it can be considered as the preferred surgical procedure.

Total extraperitoneal repair, Transabdominal preperitoneal repair, Female inguinal hernia, Mesothelial cyst of uterine round ligament.