Initial Results of Single-Incision Laparoscopic Surgery for Pediatric Inguinal Hernia in Our Hospital

Abstract

Since April 2014, we have introduced single-incision laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (SILPEC) for pediatric inguinal hernia in our hospital. Herein, we report the initial results compared with high ligation (conventional method). We retrospectively examined 131 patients who had undergone the conventional method prior to the introduction of SILPEC and 150 patients who had undergone SILPEC thereafter. The operative time for the conventional method was significantly shorter for females in unilateral cases, and the time for SILPEC was significantly shorter for males in bilateral cases. Sixty-six out of 141 SILPEC cases (46.8%) who had been preoperatively diagnosed as having unilateral hernia were found to exhibit contralateral patent processus vaginalis during the operation and were treated at the same time. There were no differences in postoperative complications, recurrence, or postoperative hospital stay. Compared with the conventional method, SILPEC is an equally safe and efficacious procedure. SILPEC can be a useful procedure because it has a better cosmetic outcome, and we can also check and treat contralateral hernia during the operation.