A randomised controlled study on the effects of hernial sac stump fenestration on ultrasound seroma prevention in laparoscopic Type III inguinal hernia repair

BACKGROUND: The incidence of ultrasound seromas has significantly increased after large hernial sac surgery. Several methods are available for preventing ultrasound seromas, but the clinical results are poor. It has also been demonstrated that hernial sac stump fenestration during laparoscopic incisional hernia repair surgery can significantly decrease the incidence of ultrasound seromas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients aged 18–75 years who were treated in our hospital for primary Type III indirect inguinal hernia from March 2017 to March 2018 were randomised to a preventive fenestration group and a control group. All patients underwent transabdominal preperitoneal repair. The number of ultrasound seromas in the inguinal regions and ultrasound seroma volume on day 6 and months 1 and 3 after surgery in the two groups were compared. The secondary outcomes included length of surgery, urinary retention, acute pain, chronic pain, length of hospitalisation, recurrence rate and other complications. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics. Ultrasound seroma incidence and ultrasound seroma volume on day 6 and months 1 and 3 after surgery were significantly lower in the preventive fenestration group than that in the control group. There were no significant differences in the length of hospitalisation or incidence of acute pain or urinary retention between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hernial sac stump fenestration after hernial sac transection in inguinal hernia repair surgery is a simple method that can effectively reduce post-operative ultrasound seromas.