ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy has been recognized as one of the treatment options for inguinal hernia. This study compared the short-term results of two methods of repair: totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair and open tissue based repair. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on all patients who underwent laparoscopic TEP repair (LH, 105 cases) and open repair (OH, 57 cases) at our hospital between September 2007 and December 2008. Posterior wall repairs in open technique follow as McVay (25 cases) and Bassini (32 cases). Demographic data, operation time, perioperative complications, consumption of analgesics, and hospital stay were compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in relation to patient characteristics; age, gender, BMI, medical and surgical history and hernia type. Also, there was no difference of operation time for both groups. Patients in the LH group consumed fewer analgesics (P=0.002). Intraoperative complications occurred more frequently in the LH group (P=0.036) but postoperative complications were similar. Hospital stay was shorter in LH (P<0.001). There was no difference of recurrence between LH group and OH group for 16 months. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic TEP repair shows similar postoperative complications and recurrences and with less postoperative pain and hospital stay, compared with open tissue based hernia repair. However, further study with longer follow up data is necessary.