Laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty: a comparison between transperitoneal and extraperitoneal techniques

Abstract

Background: This study sequentially compares the results of 148 transperitoneal inguinal hernioplasties in 129 patients with 313 totally extraperitoneal hernioplasties in 254 patients.

Methods: Patients were entered into the study prospectively and reviewed postoperatively at 1 day, 1 week, 5 weeks and 1 year.

Results: There was no difference in length of hospital stay, postoperative analgesia requirements or the rate of early or late operative complications. The operating time was shorter and the return to normal activities was earlier for the totally extraperitoneal group. There were no intraperitoneal complications following the totally extraperitoneal operation.

Conclusions: The extraperitoneal technique is favoured over the transperitoneal technique for laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty.