Managing bilateral inguinal hernia laparoscopically: is it gold standard?

Abstract

Background:Even after many studies done in recent years, no consensus has been achieved on the surgical technique of inguinal hernia repair. It was believed that in bilateral inguinal hernia cases laparoscopic surgery is very much advantageous as it can be done through same incisions as unilateral laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (no additional incision required), whereas in open surgery for bilateral case separate groin incision for each side required. Aim of this study is to evaluate and compare results of bilateral inguinal hernia patients operated by laparoscopic (transabdominal preperitoneal) or open (lichenstein) repair.Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital over the period of two years. 60 patients with bilateral inguinal hernia were taken up and randomly divided into two groups. Group I (study group) includes patients operated by bilateral laparoscopic hernia repair (TAPP) and Group II (control group) includes patients operated by open hernia repair (lichenstein tension free hernioplasty). All patients were followed up for 18 months post-operatively. All patients of both groups were monitored for operative time, conversion rate, length hospital stay, post-operative complications and recurrence, time to return to work.Results:Statistically there was significant difference between both groups in terms of length of hospital stay and time to return to work. Group I patients where TAPP surgery performed, 22 patients (73.33%) were discharged within 36 hours of surgery, whereas in Group II patients - control group where open surgery performed, only 4 patients (13.33%) discharged within 36 hours. All 30 patients (100%) in group I had joined their routine work within 10 days of surgery; whereas in Group II patients only 4 cases (13.33%) joined duties on or before 10 days and most of the patients 26 (86.67%) had taken more than 10 days to resume their duties. But there was no significant difference between operative time, complication rates and recurrence rates. All cases in group I were completed laparoscopically (no conversion to open repair).Conclusions:Simultaneous bilateral inguinal hernia repair laparoscopically does not increase the risk for the patient and has an equal morbidity compared with unilateral repair, length of hospital stay, and return to normal work and over all recovery after laparoscopic repair is faster than after open bilateral simultaneous repair. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair of bilateral hernias should be recommended as the gold standard.