LAPAROSCOPIC HERNIORRHAPHY VERSUS TRADITIONAL OPEN REPAIR AT A COMMUNITY-HOSPITAL

Over a 2-year period 157 inguinal hernias in 151 patients were consecu tively entered in this descriptive, observational study to determine a ny difference in outcome between a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair versus an open inguinal hernia repair in a community hospital setting . The laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal technique was utilized in 50 cases. A conventional open repair was used in 107 cases. There were statistically significant differences when the laparoscopic and o pen groups were compared for the number of days until driving a car (p < 0.01), the number of days until getting in and out of bed comfortab ly (p = 0.01), the number of days until working on a limited basis (p = 0.01), and the number of days until working on a full-time basis (p < 0.05), although these differences may be due to confounding factors in this nonrandomized study. The average length of operating time was 72.2 min laparoscopic versus 51.6 min open (p < 0.001). We have shown that laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs may have benefits over conve ntional hernia repairs. This may make its use more widespread than it has already become.