Comparison of efficacy and safety of the enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) and transabdominal (TARM) minimal access techniques for retromuscular placement of prosthesis in the treatment of irreducible midline ventral hernia

BACKGROUND: Retromuscular plane for mesh placement is preferred for ventral hernia repair. With the evolution of minimal access surgeries, newer techniques to deploy a mesh in the sublay plane have evolved. We compared two such minimally invasive approaches for repair of irreducible ventral midline hernia with respect to the efficacy and safety of the procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database of 73 patients operated with retromuscular placement of mesh for irreducible ventral midline hernia by enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) or transabdominal retromuscular (TARM) repair. We recorded and compared the intraoperative and post-operative complications, post-operative pain score, recovery, recurrence, subjective technical ease of procedure and patient satisfaction after 3 months and 12 months of the surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Thirty-eight patients were operated by eTEP technique and the subsequent 35 were operated by TARM repair. There was no significant difference in the outcome of surgery and complications by the two techniques. However, there was a significant subjective technical ease in the TARM group due to ergonomic triangulated port placement and adhesiolysis and reduction of hernia contents under vision. The number of ports used and post-operative pain were, however, higher in the TARM group as compared to that of the eTEP group. Nearly 96% of the patients belonging to both groups were satisfied with their surgery after a year on telephonic follow-up. However, further studies and follow-up of patients would be required to establish the advantage of one technique over the other.