The feasibility and safety of single-incision totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair after previous lower abdominal surgery: 350 procedures at a single center

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of single-incision laparoscopic surgery for totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (SILS-TEP) with previous lower abdominal surgery (PLAS).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 350 patients undergoing SILS-TEP for a primary inguinal hernia from January 2012 to December 2015 at Osaka Police Hospital was performed, and the outcomes of the patients with and without PLAS were compared.

Results

SILS-TEP was performed in 84 patients with PLAS and 266 patients without PLAS. Appendectomy was the most common previous operative procedure. There were more patients with an ASA score of ≥3 in the PLAS group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The mean operative time, and the rates of conversion and postoperative complications were comparable between the two groups. There were no cases of recurrence in either group.

Conclusions

SILS-TEP could be safely performed in patients with PLAS and achieved better cosmetic outcomes than conventional laparoscopic surgery.