SIMULTANEOUS MESH REPAIR OF BILATERAL GROIN HERNIA - A COMPARISON OF LAPAROSCOPIC AND OPEN TECHNIQUES

The optimal management of bilateral groin hernia remains contentious. We report a prospective study of all patients undergoing simultaneous mesh repair of bilateral groin hernia during a 1 year period at a sing le institution. Cases managed by open surgery were compared with those undergoing laparoscopic repair; duration of hospital stay and complic ation rate were the main end-points. 51 patients were studied; 18 had open surgery and 33 had a laparoscopic procedure. The patients in the laparoscopic group had a shorter hospital stay (median saving of 2.5 n ights). Postoperative complications (predominantly haematoma, infectio n and urinary retention) were more common in the open surgery group (p < 0.01). There were no recurrences over the study period. In summary, laparoscopic repair was associated with a Shorter hospital stay and l ower postoperative complication rate when compared with conventional o pen surgery. We would commend this procedure as the operation of choic e for the management of bilateral groin hernia.