LAPAROSCOPIC VERSUS OPEN PREPERITONEAL PROSTHETIC HERNIORRHAPHY FOR RECURRENT INGUINAL-HERNIA

Background, Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy (LH) shares the same repair pri nciple as open preperitoneal prosthetic herniorrhaphy (PPH). Theoretic ally, the recurrence rate of LH for recurrent inguinal hernia will mat ch the low recurrence rate of PPB (1.2-3%). Methods. One-hundred forty -five cases of recurrent inguinal hernia were retrospectively studied between 1990 and 1994. Forty-two cases receiving LH were compared to 1 03 cases receiving PPH, Results. There were no differences in operativ e time, hospital stay, morbidity rate, satisfaction scale and recurren ce rate between the LH group and the PPH group. The LII group showed s ignificantly less postoperative pain and 2 times shorter convalescence (p<0.01). Unsuspected asymptomatic contralateral hernia was found in 4.8% of patients receiving LH, 11.9% of patients had bilateral hernia repairing at the same time in the LH group. Conclusions. LH is suitabl e for recurrent inguinal hernia, but further investigation of this tec hnique is required before its wide application.