Comparison of the effects of laparoscopic hernia repair and Lichtenstein tension-free hernia repair.

Objective: To compare the effects of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) and Lichtenstein tension-free inguinal hernia repair and to explore the safety and feasibility of LIHR as well as the advantages and disadvantages of these procedures.

Subjects And Methods: In total, 252 patients with inguinal hernia were equally randomized into the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair, totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair, and Lichtenstein tension-free hernia repair groups (n=84 each). Operating time, postoperative pain scores, postoperative scrotal seroma, postoperative local esthesiodermia, postoperative chronic pains, postoperative long-term hernia relapse, and costs of hospitalization were compared among the three groups.

Results: All laparoscopic operations were performed smoothly without intraoperative conversion to open surgery. The LIHR groups showed significantly better effects on postoperative pains and hernia recurrence than the Lichtenstein tension-free herniorrhaphy group (P<.05), but with a significantly higher hospitalization cost (P<.05). The occurrence rate of postoperative scrotal seroma or hydrops in the TAPP, TEP, and Lichtenstein groups was 11 (13.10%), 13 (15.48%), and 6 (7.14%), respectively. No significant differences among the operating time, postoperative local esthesiodermia, or postoperative chronic pains of the groups were observed (P>.05).

Conclusions: LIHR is a safe and feasible procedure. It has significantly better effects on postoperative pains and hernia relapse than Lichtenstein tension-free hernia repair.