Laparoscopic hernia repair in the community hospital setting

Eighty-three patients (108 repairs) with inguinal hernias underwent laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair in the community hospital setting. The patients included 82 men and one woman, ranging in age from 15 to 82 years. Concomitant procedures included umbilical hernia repairs, lysis of adhesions, and varicocoelectomy. Ninety-four percent of these patients were discharged the same day, with only one patient requiring more than an overnight stay. Postoperative complications included five cases of urinary retention requiring overnight catherization (4.6%) and one case each of labile hypertension (0.9%), vasovagal reaction (0.9%), dizziness (0.9%), and ileus (0.9%); there were 12 cases of groin swelling with ecchymosis (11%). With follow-up of almost 2 years, there has been one known recurrence (0.9%). This study demonstrates that laparoscopic hernia repair can be performed safely and successfully in the community hospital setting and can be a sound alternative to the standard open hernia repair.