Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy: initial experience in 126 patients

The initial experience in laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal mesh (TAPP) repairs is reviewed. In this study, consecutive TAPP repairs were performed in 126 patients. There were no intraoperative complications, and only 1 procedure had to be converted to open surgery. Forty-six patients had direct inguinal hernias, 56 had indirect inguinal hernias, and 24 had both, of which 21 were recurrent. Fifty-one hernias were right sided, 46 were left sided, and 29 were bilaterals. The male/female ratio was 116:10, and the mean age of the patients was 49.8 (range 17-76). Minor complications included parasthesia over the distribution of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh in 2 patients, hydrocoeles in 2 patients, hematomata in 6 patients, and testicular pain in 4 patients, all of which resolved on conservative management. Incomplete bowel obstruction has been the only major postoperative complication to date, where an area of bowel herniated between two staples in the peritoneum. This was further complicated by an aspiration pneumonia and death of the patient. The mean hospital stay was 1.2 days (range 1-3), and the mean return to unrestricted activity was 8 days (range 3-12). There have been 2 true recurrences to date. One patient had a tender swelling after the repair, which was thought to be a recurrent strangulated hernia. On investigation, it was found to be a hematoma. The mean follow-up has been 7 months (range 1-18). Although early results of the TAPP repair are encouraging, we have had 1 significant complication that may have been avoided if an endoscopic extraperitoneal approach was employed.