Contralateral exploration and repair of occult inguinal hernias during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: systematic review and Markov decision process

Laparoscopic iliopubic tract repair for asymptomatic contralateral occult inguinal hernia

PURPOSE

Metachronous contralateral inguinal hernia (MCIH) may occur after unilateral inguinal hernia (IH) repair, potentially as a result of occult IH (OIH). Contralateral OIH can be checked for during laparoscopic transabdominal hernioplasty for the treatment of unilateral IH. This study aims to assess the efficacy of laparoscopic iliopubic tract repair (IPTR) in treating contralateral OIH to reduce MCIH.

METHODS

The medical charts of 3165 patients aged > 18 years who underwent laparoscopic transabdominal hernioplasty for unilateral IH from January 2013 to December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were categorized into two groups based on contralateral OIH presence: negative OIH (nOIH, 2657 patients) and OIH (508 patients). In cases of OIH, IPTR was performed, involving suturing of the iliopubic tract and transversalis fascia arch.

RESULTS

MCIH was indirect in 26 and direct in 4 patients in the nOIH group, and was direct in 3 patients in the OIH group. The incidence of indirect MCIH was higher in the nOIH group than in the OIH (1.0% [n = 26/2657] vs. 0.0% [n = 0/508], p = 0.048). There was no difference in postoperative complication rates, pain scores, return to daily life, or duration of hospitalization between the nOIH and OIH groups.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic IPTR for OIH treatment is an effective method for reducing the risk of indirect MCIH.

Natural history of occult hernias in adults at a safety-net hospital

PURPOSE

Occult hernias, hernias seen on radiologic imaging but not felt on physical exam, are common. Despite their high prevalence, little is known about the natural history of this finding. Our aim was to determine and report on the natural history of patients with occult hernias including the impact on abdominal wall quality of life (AW-QOL), need for surgery, and risk of acute incarceration/strangulation.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of patients who underwent a computed tomography (CT) abdomen/pelvis scan from 2016 to 2018. Primary outcome was change in AW-QOL using the modified Activities Assessment Scale (mAAS), a hernia-specific, validated survey (1 = poor, 100 = perfect). Secondary outcomes included elective and emergent hernia repairs.

RESULTS

A total of 131 (65.8%) patients with occult hernias completed follow-up with a median (IQR) of 15.4 (22.5) months. Nearly half of these patients (42.8%) experienced a decrease in their AW-QOL, 26.0% were unchanged, and 31.3% reported improvement. One-fourth of patients (27.5%) underwent abdominal surgery during the study period: 9.9% were abdominal procedures without hernia repair, 16.0% involved elective hernia repairs, and 1.5% were emergent hernia repairs. AW-QOL improved for patients who underwent hernia repair (+ 11.2 ± 39.7, p = 0.043) while those who did not undergo hernia repair experienced no change in AW-QOL (- 3.0 ± 35.1).

CONCLUSION

When untreated, patients with occult hernias on average experience no change in their AW-QOL. However, many patients experience improvement in AW-QOL after hernia repair. Additionally, occult hernias have a small but real risk of incarceration requiring emergent repair. Further research is needed to develop tailored treatment strategies.

Update of the international HerniaSurge guidelines for groin hernia management

BACKGROUND

Groin hernia repair is one of the most common operations performed globally, with more than 20 million procedures per year. The last guidelines on groin hernia management were published in 2018 by the HerniaSurge Group. The aim of this project was to assess new evidence and update the guidelines. The guideline is intended for general and abdominal wall surgeons treating adult patients with groin hernias.

METHOD

A working group of 30 international groin hernia experts and all involved stakeholders was formed and examined all new literature on groin hernia management, available until April 2022. Articles were screened for eligibility and assessed according to GRADE methodologies. New evidence was included, and chapters were rewritten. Statements and recommendations were updated or newly formulated as necessary.

RESULTS

Ten chapters of the original HerniaSurge inguinal hernia guidelines were updated. In total, 39 new statements and 32 recommendations were formulated (16 strong recommendations). A modified Delphi method was used to reach consensus on all statements and recommendations among the groin hernia experts and at the European Hernia Society meeting in Manchester on October 21, 2022.

CONCLUSION

The HerniaSurge Collaboration has updated the international guidelines for groin hernia management. The updated guidelines provide an overview of the best available evidence on groin hernia management and include evidence-based statements and recommendations for daily practice. Future guideline development will change according to emerging guideline methodology.

Comparison of laparoscope-assisted single-needle laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure versus open repair for pediatric inguinal hernia

Background

Laparoscopic-assisted repairs for pediatric inguinal hernia have gained gradual acceptance over the past decade. However, consensus about the optimal management is still lacking. The aim of this study is to compare outcomes of a modified laparoscope-assisted single-needle laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) versus open repair of pediatric hernias/hydrocele in a single institution.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical data of children who underwent laparoscope-assisted single-needle LPEC and open repair (OR) for inguinal hernia from 2014 to 2019. Data collection included demographics, laterality of hernia, surgical time and time to follow-up. We also reviewed and analyzed the evidence of recurrence, the incidence of metachronous contralateral inguinal hernia (MCIH), and other complications.

Results

In our cohort, 961 patients in the OR group and 1098 patients in the LPEC group were analyzed retrospectively. Mean operative time was significantly shorter in the LPEC group (22.3 ± 3.5 min) than in the OR group (27.8 ± 5.9 min) for bilateral hernia repair (p < 0.001). Postoperative recurrence was 1.3% (13/1035) in the OR group and 0.5% (6/1182) in the LPEC group (p = 0.056). Iatrogenic cryptorchidism occurred statistically more frequently in the OR group than in the LPEC group (0.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.013). In addition, the incidence of MCIH was 3.7% (33/887) in the OR group and 0.3% (3/1014) in the LPEC group (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Comparing to open technique, laparoscope-assisted single-needle LPEC provides a simple and effective option for pediatric inguinal hernia/hydrocele repair with excellent outcomes, a low incidence of recurrence, and reduced MCIH.

How Often Occult Inguinal or Spigelian Hernias Detected During Laparoscopy of Other Reasons Are Later Operated?

BACKGROUND

The incidence of occult inguinal or Spigelian hernias found in other laparoscopies is seldom studied and their development to symptomatic hernias is unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The orifices of all inguinal and Spigelian hernias at linea semilunaris were carefully recorded prospectively in the laparoscopic surgery during the years 2003-2004 (104 cholecystectomies, 55 fundoplications, 36 diagnostic, and 6 miscellaneous). The patients were followed up over 15 years to find out how often the detected occult hernias at index laparoscopy become later symptomatic and were repaired.

RESULTS

The index laparoscopic operation was performed to 201 patients with a mean age of 53±14 years. The overall frequency of unexpected hernias was 21% including 36 (18%) inguinal hernias, 5 (2.5%) Spigelian hernias, and 2 (1.0%) ventral hernias. At the index laparoscopy, only 5/201 inguinal and 2 Spigelian hernioplasties were concomitantly undertaken. After 15 years, data of 169 patients were available and new hernia repairs were performed only in 8 (4.7%) patients (2 inguinal, 4 umbilical, and 2 ventral hernias).

CONCLUSIONS

Asymptomatic occult hernias detected during laparoscopic surgery of other reason evolve very seldom (<5%) to symptomatic and need to be repaired.

Laparoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP) Groin Hernia Repair in Patients After Contralateral TEP Groin Hernia Repair

BACKGROUND

The totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair for groin hernia is considered difficult in patients with a healed surgical scar in the lower abdomen. We reported the feasibility of repair in those patients and found that the most frequent previous procedure in patients for whom the procedure was changed intraoperatively was a contralateral TEP after TEP repair. We now report an expanded patient cohort with a suggested unified treatment strategy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2006 to 2020, 443 patients underwent laparoscopic TEP groin hernia repair. A contralateral TEP after TEP repair was performed in 35 patients. The conversion rate after TEP was compared with that after other operations. Patients were divided into completed contralateral TEP after TEP repair (N=28) and changed procedure groups (N=7). Clinical characteristics were compared including age, body mass index, location and type of hernia, and interval after previous surgery. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for conversion of the TEP procedure.

RESULTS

Patients undergoing contralateral TEP after TEP repair were significantly overrepresented among patients for whom the procedure was changed compared with other previous operations (P<0.01), with an odds ratio of 19.91. Comparing completed TEP after TEP repair and changed procedure groups, there were no significant differences regarding age (mean: 67 vs. 69 y old), body mass index (22.4 vs. 22.5 kg/m2), type of hernia (indirect or direct), or duration after previous TEP repair (median: 642 vs. 470 d) and identified no significant risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The contralateral TEP after TEP repair for groin hernia is feasible. However, dense adhesions may be present if balloon dissection was performed at the previous TEP repair, and it is necessary to carefully dissect being ready to convert to other procedures such as TAPP repair or an anterior approach.