INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR:OPEN vs TEP APPROACHES

Prof Dr Orhan AlimoğluDepartment of General SurgeryIstanbul Medeniyet University

Inguinal hernia

• One of the most common surgical problem in daily practice

• Different operations and approaches• Gold standard: repair with mesh• Currently– Lichtenstein hernia repair– Endoscopic totally extra-peritoneal (TEP) repair– Laparoscopic trans-abdominal preperitoneal

(TAPP) repair

General Precautions• No place for routine antibiotic and

thromboembolic prophylaxis, only in selected patients

• Risk factors for wound and mesh infection– Advanced age– Corticosteroid use– Immunosuppression– Obesity– Diabetes– Malignancy

Characteristics of mesh

• Large vs small • Low-weight vs heavy weight• Micropore vs macropore• Conclusion: Efficiency of lighter mesh with

larger pores only during the first few postoperative weeks

Lichtenstein Inguinal Hernia Repair• Large mesh (7*15 cm)

– 2 cm medial to the pubic tubercle, 3–4 cm above the Hesselbach’s triangle, and 5–6 cm lateral to the internal ring, trimming 3–4 cm from its lateral side

• Crossing and suturing tails of mesh behind spermatic cord• Securing mesh with two interrupted sutures on upper

edge and one continuous suture with no more than three to four passes on lower edge of mesh

• Keeping mesh with a slightly relaxed, tented up, or dome-shaped configuration

• Identification and protection of the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genital nerves

Advantages

• Every type of inguinal hernia• Local anesthesia• Easy to learn and perform• Low rate of recurrence• Gold standard?

Disadvantages

• Postoperative chronic pain– Higher than TEP or TAPP ?

• Return to daily activity– Later than TEP or TAPP ?

TEP Inguinal Hernia Repair

• Technique– Trocars• Direct access of one subumblical 10 mm and two 5 mm

at the midline

– Preperitoneal dissection– Dissection of hernial sac– Parietalization of spermatic cord and its content– Placement of mesh

Technical difficulties

• Preperitoneal space creation– Baloon dissection in early learning curve besides

its cost• Peritoneal injury– Loss of exposure– Closure of defect via pretied suture, loop ligation,

endoscopic stapling or endoscopic suturing• Port-site closure– Closure of fascial defects larger than 10 mm

Dissection and Landmarks

• Superior– Subumblical area

• Inferior– Space of Retzius

• Inferolateral– Psoas muscle and Bogros

space

• Medial– Beyond midline

• Pubic bone• Cooper’s ligament• Inferior epigastric

vessels• Cord structures• Myopectineal orifice

boundaries• Fascia over psoas

muscle

Controversies• Preoperative urinary catheterization– Preoperative emptying of urinary bladder by

him/herself– Catheterization in difficult and long-standing

surgery• Access for pneumopreperitoneum– Subumblical direct trocar vs suprapubic Veress

Technical Key Points

• Inversion and anchoring of direct sac to Cooper’s ligament to decrease risk of seroma and hematoma formation

• Proximal ligation and distal division of large indirect hernia sac

• Drains only in selected patients• Fixation of mesh in hernias greater than 4 cm

Recommendations

• Larger mesh (12*17 cm) in larger hernia (>3-4 cm)

• Stapled fixation of mesh to the symphysis, Cooper’s ligament and rectus muscle in larger direct hernia (>3-4 cm)

• Overlapping of mesh approximately 1-3 cm lateral to the spina iliaca anterior superior in large indirect hernias (>4-5)

Advantages of TEP repair

• Early return to daily activities• Low rate of postoperative chronic pain• Exploration of contralateral side for hidden

hernias ?

Disadvantages of TEP repair

• General anesthesia; regional anesthesia in selected patients

• Longer learning curve– At least 50 to 60 cases

• Applicability on incarcerated and scrotal hernias

• Applicability on patients with previous lower abdominal surgery

Learning Curve for TEP repair

• Can J Surg, 2012, 55: 33-6– 700 patients– Learning curve after the first 60 cases• A plateau of less than 30 min for duration of surgery• A plateau of 1 day for length of stay

• Conclusion: learning curve for TEP hernia repair as 60 cases for a beginner surgeon