Single incision approach to totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays the vast majority of inguinal hernia repairs are laparoscopically assisted. Single incision laparoscopy aims to accelerate recovery and provide a better cosmetic outcome after the operation. AIM: To present our own modification of the totally extraperitoneal (TEP) procedure with a single incision and without a multiport, and compare the results with those obtained in the classic three-trocar TEP method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised 61 males. The first group consisted of 35 males who underwent single incision videoscopic alloplasty TEP. The second group comprised 26 males who underwent videoscopic alloplasty using the classic approach. The study assessed the time of operation, complications and postoperative pain based on the VAPS scale. RESULTS: The operation time in the first group was statistically longer compared with the time in the second group. The assessment of differences in postoperative pain in both the examined groups on the first and seventh day after the operation was considered statistically insignificant. In both the studied groups there was no recurrence of hernia established on the first and seventh day after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced number of incisions in the TEP method with a single incision approach without a multiport involves a decrease in the number of postoperative scars, and thus offers a better cosmetic outcome compared with the classic TEP procedure. The time of TEP operation performed with a single incision approach without a multiport is statistically longer than the duration of the classic laparoscopic TEP procedure.