Repeated laparoscopic treatment of recurrent inguinal hernias after previous posterior repair.

BACKGROUND: The reported recurrence rates after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair are 0-4 %. It is unclear which technique could best be offered to a patient with a recurrent hernia after a previous posterior repair. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the safety, feasibility, and reliability of a repeated laparoscopic repair (TAPP) for a recurrent hernia after a previous posterior inguinal hernia repair.

METHODS: The study group contains 2,594 consecutive transabdominal inguinal hernia repairs (TAPP). Of these, 53 repairs were attempted in 51 patients for recurrent hernias after a previous posterior repair. During the follow-up period, patients were examined for recurrences and for presence of a port-site hernia. Pain was scored by the visual analogue pain scale (VAS).

RESULTS: Fifty-one patients underwent a TAPP repair for a recurrent inguinal hernia after previous posterior hernia repair. Two patients presented a bilateral recurrent inguinal hernia. In two thirds of the patients, the recurrence was located caudally or medially from the previously placed mesh. Two attempted repairs had to be converted to an open technique due to severe adhesions. One intraoperative complication was encountered when the vas deferens was ligated during surgery due to adhesions of the previous placed mesh. Nine patients encountered an adverse event postoperatively, but none of them were serious events. No mesh infections were reported. The mean follow-up was 70 (range, 1-198) months. At follow-up, no recurrences were found at physical examination. Four patients developed a port-site hernia. Four patients had complaints of postoperative pain and were restricted in daily activities due to groin pain. The mean VAS score (scale 0-100), including the four patients with persistent pain, was 5.7 (range, 0-61).

CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that repeated laparoscopic hernia repair (TAPP) is a definite repair for recurrent inguinal hernias. The procedure is feasible, safe, and reliable.