EARLY COMPLICATIONS AND OUTCOMES OF THE CURRENT TECHNIQUE OF TRANSPERITONEAL LAPAROSCOPIC HERNIORRHAPHY AND A COMPARISON TO THE TRADITIONALOPEN APPROACH

We conducted a prospective study to evaluate early complications and c omplaints of 60 patients who underwent laparoscopic transperitoneal he rnia repair at our institution. Average follow-up was 9 months. patien ts graded levels and duration of postoperative pain subjectively. Nine patients (15%) had complications of anterior/medial thigh numbness, 4 (6.7%) scrotal swelling, 4 (6.7%) scrotal ecchymosis, 3 (5%) hematoma , 2 (3.3%) prolonged sensation of tightness/pressure, 1 (1.7%) seroma, 1 (1.7%) urinary retention, and 1 (1.7%) pain with intercourse. Twent y-six (43%) had no postoperative complaints. Overall, 57 (95%) stated they were satisfied with their repair and would recommend the laparosc opic technique. Fifty-five patients (92%) returned to basic activities of daily living in less than 2 weeks. Thirty-five (73%) of the 18 pat ients who were employed returned to work within 3 weeks. in comparison , only 7 (29%) of 24 patients in an open hernia repair group resumed n ormal activity during the first 2 postoperative weeks, and only 3 (14% ) of the 21 employed patients in this group returned to work at 3 week s. The laparoscopic and traditional open herniorrhaphy methods were co mpared in terms of operating room time and cost. The average unilatera l laparoscopic repair (n = 51) cost $3,094 and lasted 81 minutes. Bila teral laparoscopy procedures (n = 9) averaged $3,774 and 110 minutes. Unilateral traditional hernia repairs (n = 24) had an average cost of $1,990 and duration of 69 minutes. In follow-up ranging from 2 to 28 m onths, there has been only 1 recurrence to report in the laparoscopic group (1.7%). All patients continue to be followed to determine longte rm recurrence risks.