Abstract
Purpose: We have performed the laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) method for pediatric inguinal hernia as the standard procedure. The aim of this study is evaluating the advantages and problems of the LPEC method. Methods: The first step of our procedure is inserting an initial port (3mm) at the bottom of the umbilicus. On the lateral abdomen we insert a working port and ligate the hernia sac at the root of it using a lapaherclosure. When the patent processus vaginalis is found on the contralateral side during the operation, we ligate it simultaneously in the same manner. Results: One patient had suffered a relapse of the inguinal hernia after LPEC method. We suppose that a cause of the relapse could be low ligation of the sac because of the long sliding of the ovarian duct. We have not experienced a contralateral hernia after instituting the LPEC method. When we diagnosed a patient with a femoral hernia instead of an inguinal hernia during the operation, we repaired it with LPEC method. We experienced an omental hernia from the umbilical incision in 2 cases postoperatively. Conclusion: The LPEC method is safe and useful. It has some advantages such as detection of the contralateral hernia sac and simplicity for repair of an incarcerated hernia. However, it may not be adequate for a patient with a long sliding of the ovarian duct.
