Outcomes of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs: an 11-year experience in a private surgical practice

Inguinal hernia repairs are among the most common surgeries worldwide, with laparoscopic techniques being increasingly popular due to benefits like reduced pain, faster recovery, and better cosmetic outcomes. This study evaluated the outcomes of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs performed by a single surgeon in private practice.

A retrospective audit was conducted on adults who underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair between January 2010 and December 2020. Data on patient and procedural characteristics and outcomes were collected from hospital records and following telephonic contact with patients. The study was approved by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (BREC/00005605/2023).

The study included 188 patients (91.5% male, median age 49 years). All repairs were performed using the total extraperitoneal (TEP) approach for unilateral and bilateral hernias. Conversion to open surgery occurred in 13.8% of cases. The median procedure time was 94.9 minutes, the postoperative hospital stay was two days, and the return to work was two days. The median operative time was shorter in the latter study period (2015-2020) than the former (2010-2014): 81 minutes (IQR: 70-102) minutes versus 131 minutes (IQR: 108-148 minutes), p < 0.01. At the end of the follow-up period in 2024, 20.2% (38/188) were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 150 patients who were contactable, 88.7% had no further complications, 4.7% had hernia recurrence, 4.0% reported inguinodynia, and 2.7% had demised.

This study provides valuable insights into laparoscopic hernia repair performed by a single surgeon over an 11-year period. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, even for primary cases, is feasible with shorter operative times and low complication and hernia recurrence rates when performed by an experienced surgeon.