SpringerLink - Journal Article

Open versus minilaparoscopic herniorrhaphy for children: a prospective comparative trial with midterm follow-up evaluation

Yao Chou Tsai^{1, 2}, Chao-Chuan Wu³ and Stephen Shei-Dei Yang^{1, 2}

(1)	Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, 289 Jianguo Road, Xindian, Taipei, Taiwan

(2)	Department of Urology, Tzu Chi University, Medical College, Hualien, Taiwan

(3)	Department of Surgery, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, Taipei, Taiwan

Received: 8 October 2008 Revised: 17 March 2009 Accepted: 1 May 2009 Published online: 19 August 2009

Abstract

Background A prospective clinical trial was designed to compare the midterm surgical and functional results between open (OR) and minilaparoscopic (MR) herniorrhaphy repairs for pediatric inguinal hernia.

Methods Between May 2005 and May 2008, 174 children with inguinal hernias were prospectively enrolled for either open or minilaparoscopic hernia repair. Of these children, 65 underwent open herniorrhaphy and 109 underwent minilaparoscopic herniorrhaphy. The postoperative functional status, pain, complications, and overall satisfaction were documented at outpatient clinic visits for analysis.

Results During the study period, 35 patients were lost to follow-up evaluation and thus excluded. The mean follow-up period was about 2 years, and the baseline characteristics were matched between the two groups. The patients in the MR group had recurrence rates, postoperative pain, complications, and functional recovery comparable with those in the OR group. None in the MR patients experienced a contralateral metachronous inguinal hernia compared with 9.7% of the OR patients (p = 0.02). The MR patients had a higher rate of overall satisfaction than the OR patients (p = 0.03).

Conclusions Minilaparoscopic herniorrhaphy was superior to open repair with regard to prevention of contralateral hernia occurrence and overall satisfaction.

Keywords Contralateral metachronous inguinal hernia - Hernia - Mini-laparoscopic herniorrhaphy - Open herniorrhaphy - Pediatric inguinal hernia

Yao Chou Tsai
Email: tsai0523@ms29.url.com.tw

Stephen Shei-Dei Yang (Corresponding author)
Email: urolyang@yahoo.com.tw

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