COMPLICATIONS OF LAPAROSCOPIC HERNIORRHAPHY

Anterior inguinal hernia repair is the second-most-commonly performed abdominal operation and has been associated with low morbidity and mor tality rates. The principle of laparoscopy has been applied to this su rgical problem in a series of 762 patients with 841 inguinal hernias. Four types of laparoscopic repairs were conducted: (1) high ligation o f the indirect inguinal hernia sac and closure of the internal ring (8 7 patients with 89 hernias); (2) plug and patch of the internal ring ( 74 patients with 87 hernias); (3) transperitoneal suture repair of the transversalis fascia to the iliopubic tract or Cooper's ligament (28 patients with 30 hernias); and (4) placement of a large prosthesis ove r the myopectoneal orifice (563 patients with 635 hernias). These earl y results indicate that the overall complication rates were low, espec ially when a large prosthesis was used to reinforce the myopectoneal o rifice. It is concluded that laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy is a safe and effective procedure with which to manage this surgical proble m.