Mohammad Sufian Khalid, Wahid Khan, Abul Fazal Khan.
Laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy: analysis of initial experience.
Pak J Med Sci Jan ;22(1):70-3.

Objective: To evaluate our experience with laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy regarding time to full recovery, return to work, complications and recurrence rate. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively studied a consecutive series of patients who underwent laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia at our institution. The study cohort consisted of forty patients operated by a single surgeon between 1st Janruary 2000 to 1st January 2003. For all operations a TEPA (total extra-peritoneal approach) was used. Setting: Department of General Surgery, Lahore General Hospital Lahore. Main Outcome Measures: Outcome of laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy Results: The study group consisted of 38 male and 2 female patients with a mean age of 45 years (range 30 to 60 years) at the time of operation. During the study period, 50 laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs were performed in 40 patients. Bilateral hernia repair was done in 10 patients (20%). Of the 50 procedures; one repair (2%) was done for recurrent hernias. In 20% of the patients the procedure was completed as a day case surgery. A mean follow up of 12 weeks was obtained for 36 patients (>90%). Minor complications occurred in 28% of patients, whereas major complication occurred in one patient who developed recurrence in the immediate post operative period. The median time to return to work or normal physical activity was 8-12 days for unilateral and 10-14 days for bilateral hernia repair. Conclusion: Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy is a feasible alternative to open hernia repair.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com