Abstract
(Introduction) With the exception of advanced age, the most common cause of groin hernia in adults is patent processus vaginalis (PPV). The surgical methods used commonly at present to repair groin hernia in adult patients, such as the mesh-plug method, require the use of artificial materials that remain permanently within the body after surgery. Laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) is a surgical technique that is commonly performed to repair groin hernias in infants. In this study, we evaluated the utility of the LPEC technique to repair groin hernia in adults, and compared the procedure and results with other commonly used hernial repair methods at present.
(Method) Between 2007 and 2008 we operated on 20 patients aged between 17 years and 30 years who were diagnosed with inguinal hernia. We used the LPEC method to treat 5 patients and the mesh-plug method to treat 15 patients. (Result) There were many advantages of using the LPEC surgery technique repaining groin hernia in adults, such as comparatively shorter duration and the less invasive nature of the surgery as compared to the mesh-plug method.
(Conclusion) LPEC is safely applicable to the adult patients with inguinal hernia as a repairing method. Further, the patients' reproductive system remains intact, and the incision sites become indiscernible after nealing.
