A Prospective Study of Non-Prophylatic Antibiotics for Totally Extraperitoneal Laparoscopic Repair of Inguinal Hernia

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The role of prophylactic antibiotics in totally extraperitoneal (TEP) laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia is unclear. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of antibiotic therapy for surgical site infection (SSI) in post TEP laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia. METHODS: We prospectively reviewed data collected from 280 patients with inguinal hernias who were treated by TEP laparoscopic repair between August 2008 and July 2012. None of the patients received prophylactic antibiotics. Patients with a history of recurrent hernias, immune suppressive disease or diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. RESULTS: There were 265 male patients and 15 female patients aged 19 to 82 years. There were 240 indirect, 38 direct, and 2 pantaloon hernias. The mean operating time was 49 minutes, and the mean length of hospital stay was 1.4 days. The most frequent complications of TEP laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia were ecchymosis (32.85%), followed by wound pain (16.42%). Surgery related complications occurred in two cases (0.71%) of SSI and 13 cases (8.65%) of wound hematoma. No additional surgical treatment for complications were required. No mesh infection occurred in patients during the follow up period. CONCLUSION: Non-prophylactic antibiotics for elective TEP laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia appear to be acceptable. Randomized controlled trials of the efficiency of antibiotic therapy in SSI in patients with inguinal hernia should be conducted.