IS THERE A PLACE FOR INTRAPERITONEAL ONLAY MESH(IPOM) FOR INGUINAL HERNIA? A SINGLE-CENTRE EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Abstract Background IPOM is a well-established technique for the laparoscopic treatment of ventral hernias, for which it can also be considered the treatment of choice in selected patients. Its usage for the laparoscopic treatment of inguinal hernia has already been described. The main concern about this technique is the high risk of neurovascular damage since mesh fixation has always been achieved with resorbable tackers. Recently, some new glue-based fixation devices have been introduced that could almost nullify this risk. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of IPOM techniques for inguinal hernia treatment using only glue-based fixation devices. Materials and Methods Sixteen patients (13 with bilateral inguinal hernias) who underwent IPOM inguinal hernia repair from 2021 to 2023 were included. All patient data were collected from the hospital's medical records. Follow-up appointments were scheduled for clinical visits every 3 months during the first year, and every 6 months thereafter to evaluate long-term outcomes. Results The mean follow-up time was 13.2 ± 6.8 months. The mean operative time was 22.5 ± 6.8 minutes and all the patients were discharged a one-night stay. Only one case of unilateral recurrence was reported. Complications occurred in 2 patients (Grade I according to the Clavien-Dindo scale). No cases of intraoperative bleeding or chronic pain were reported. Conclusion Our experience shows that the IPOM technique with glue-based fixation devices is a safe, feasible and easy-to-master method for the treatment of inguinal hernias. Due to its main characteristic such as the short execution time, it could be considered as an option for selected patients, particularly in cases of synchronous interventions. Further trials are needed to evaluate the clinical outcomes.