Laparoscopic percutaneous closure of patent processus vaginalis without hydrocelectomy for childhood primary hydrocele.

PURPOSE: To present our surgical technique and the outcome of single-incision laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (SILPEC) of patent processus vaginalis (PPV) without hydrocelectomy for childhood primary hydrocele (CPH). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on all cases of CPH treated with SILPEC at our center between June 2016 and December 2021. In our SILPEC procedure, PPV was closed extraperitoneally using a percutaneous needle with a wire lasso. No hydrocelectomy or fenestration of the hydrocele was performed. Percutaneous aspiration was performed when the hydrocele fluid could not be pushed back to the peritoneal cavity. RESULTS: 553 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 34 months (range from 22 months to 13 years). Ipsilateral PPV was present in all cases. There were no intraoperative complications and no conversion. At follow-up 6-72 months, recurrent hydrocele occurred in 0.36%, and subcutaneous stitch inflammatory reaction was noted in 0.7%. There was no case of testicular atrophy or iatrogenic cryptorchidism. Postoperative cosmesis was excellent as all patients were virtually scarless. CONCLUSIONS: Ipsilateral PPV was present in all cases of CPH in our series. Our technique of SILPEC of PPV without hydrocelectomy is feasible and safe, with excellent postoperative cosmesis in the management of CPH.

Reduction of recurrence by peritoneal thermal injury in laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure of internal ring for inguinal hernia in children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of peritoneal thermal injury (PTI) in the reduction of recurrence incidence in laparoscopic percutaneous extra-peritoneal closure of internal ring (LPEC) for pediatric inguinal hernia (PIH) in children. METHODS: Medical records of patients undergoing LPEC for PIH at our center were reviewed and divided into 2 groups: Group A (period from June 2017 to December 2017)-without PTI and Group B (period from January 2018 to December 2018) with PTI. The surgical technique and the type of suture used for LPEC were the same for both groups. The outcomes of the two groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: 277 patients with 283 IHs in group A were compared to 376 patients with 389 IHs in group B. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, uni- or bilateral hernia. At a median follow-up period of 48 months, there was no hydrocele, suture granuloma, testicular atrophy, or iatrogenic cryptorchidism in both groups. The recurrence rate in group A was 6.4%, significantly higher than 1.8% in group B (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that PTI in LPEC for PIH is safe and associated with a significant reduction of recurrence incidence.

Long-term absorbable versus non-absorbable suture in laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure of internal ring for inguinal hernia in children.

AIM: To compare the results of using long-term absorbable (LTAS) versus non-absorbable suture (NAS) in laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure of internal ring (LPEC) for indirect inguinal hernia (IH) in children METHODS: Prospectively collected data from children undergoing LPEC for IH at our center were retrospectively reviewed to compare group A repaired with NAS (2.0 monofilament polypropylene or braided polytetrafluoroethilene) to group B repaired with LTAS 2.0 polydioxanone. RESULTS: 481 patients with 499 IHs in group A were compared to 277 patients with 283 IHs in group B. There were no significant differences in terms of age, bodyweight and laterality of IH between the two groups. At a median follow up period of 30 months, the incidence of suture knot reaction (SKR) and hernia recurrence were 3.1% and 1.0% in group A vs. 0% and 6.4% in group B with p = 0.002 and p<0.001, respectively. Monofilament NAS was associated with a low rate of both recurrence and SKR. CONCLUSIONS: LPEC repair for pediatric IH using LTAS is associated with no SKR but a higher recurrence rate compared to NAS. Monofilament NAS such as Prolene could be a good choice in LPEC because of its low rate of both recurrence and SKR.