Incise, dissect, excise and suture technique of laparoscopic repair of paediatric male inguinal hernia

BACKGROUND: Authors report incise, dissect, excise and suture (IDES) technique of laparoscopic repair of paediatric male inguinal hernia (LRPMIH). This series retrospectively evaluates a consecutive personal series of children undergoing laparoscopic hernia repair by this new technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective review of the LRPMIH done by single surgeon from January 2001 to December 2007. All male patients who were referred to the first author for management of inguinal hernia were given the option of laparoscopic repair. Parents who gave consent for their child to undergo LRPMIH were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 155 patients were operated. Age group was 2 months to 13 years (average-5 years). Follow-up period ranges from 1 to 7 years. Average operating time was 29 min for unilateral and 40 min for bilateral inguinal hernia. Maximum time required was 50 min which was for bilateral inguinal hernia. Bilateral inguinal hernia was present in 10 (6.4%) patients. There were no intraoperative complications. Contralateral processus vaginalis was patent in 25 (16.12%) patients. In the immediate post-operative period 8 patients had port site surgical emphysema which resolved on its own. There are no recurrences so far. One patient developed port site hernia, which was repaired with the standard surgery. There is no incidence of clinical testicular atrophy. CONCLUSION: LRPMIH can be done as routine procedure and also has fewer complications. It has advantage of diagnosing and repairing contra lateral patent processus vaginalis. However a double-blind controlled study is required to establish the results.