Abstract
The development of laparoscopic techniques and the availability of lightweight mesh has facilitated the use of various operative procedures for adult inguinal hernia surgery. We performed totally extraperitoneal preperitoneal (TEP) repair using 3D Max Light® (C.R. Bard, Inc.) without balloon dilation 3D Max Light, an anatomically contoured 3D lightweight mesh, is used in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. This mesh has a large-pore knit that provides good visibility while allowing the creation of a flexible and compliant abdominal wall. Twenty patients (mean age, 60.9 years), including 7 with unilateral hernias and 13 with bilateral hernias underwent TEP using 3D Max Light® in our hospital between May 2011 and September 2011. The mean operative time was 81.8 min (range, 55-166 min) for unilateral hernia and 133.0 min (range, 88-173 min) for bilateral hernias. The mean hospital stay was 3.0 days (range, 1-5 days). The average follow-up period was 3.2 months (range, 1-6 months). One patient showed seroma 1 month after surgery, but no recurrences or complications were observed. This method is economical and useful for decreasing postoperative complications such as neuralgia and recurrence. We suggest that this operative method with 3D Max Light® should become a standard approach for the management of inguinal hernia.
