Elective laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal repair for Spigelian hernia: A case series of four patients

Spigelian hernia: Our total extraperitoneal approach and a systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Spigelian hernia is a rare lateral ventral hernia traditionally repaired through open incision with extensive dissection. Three laparoscopic techniques have been reported in the literature: intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM), transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP), and total extraperitoneal (TEP). TEP is less popular than the other approaches. We evaluated TEP's safety and effectiveness and compared different laparoscopic techniques.

METHODS

All patients with Spigelian hernia who had undergone extended TEP (eTEP) repair with mesh in our center from January 2007 to February 2020 were studied. A three-port technique with a preperitoneal space created by telescope at the midline was adopted. A systematic review on laparoscopic mesh repair was performed by searching for "Spigelian hernia" and "laparoscopic" from 1999 to 2019 in the MEDLINE database.

RESULTS

Seven patients underwent eTEP repair for Spigelian hernia. Five presented with abdominal mass and underwent preoperative imaging. Two were diagnosed incidentally during TEP for inguinal hernia. The mean operative duration was 65 minutes (range, 40-93 minutes). There were no open conversions or intraoperative complications. The mean length of hospital stay was 1.4 days (range, 1-3 days). The mean follow-up period was 44.3 months. One patient developed seroma. There was no recurrence or chronic pain. We identified 197 laparoscopic mesh repairs reported in 41 articles. IPOM (n = 91) was the most popular approach, followed by TAPP (n = 70) and TEP (n = 36). Laparoscopic mesh repair of Spigelian hernia is safe and offers excellent outcomes.

CONCLUSION

We found the eTEP approach safe and effective for Spigelian hernia repair. IPOM, TAPP, and TEP are comparable.

Laparoscopic modified lateral transabdominal preperitoneal approach for Spigelian hernia repair: An easier approach to a rare condition

INTRODUCTION

Both laparoscopic and open approaches are well accepted for spigelian hernia (SH) repair. Several techniques for SH repair are described in literature. In our study, eight patients underwent laparoscopic SH repair. A modified lateral TAPP approach was used in four cases and then compared with the conventional TAPP approach.

METHODS

From January 2015 to January 2017, eight cases of SH were treated using the laparoscopic TAPP approach. Four cases underwent surgery by the conventional laparoscopic TAPP approach (group I). For the other four, modified lateral approach transabdominal preperitoneal technique was used (group II). Postoperative pain, operative time, length of hospital stay, and complications were compared between the groups. Patients were followed up for a minimum period of 1 year.

RESULT

Among the eight cases, the mean age was 52 years in group I and 50 years in group II, mean defect size was 23 mm in group I and 28 mm in group II, mean length of hospital stay was 1.50 days in group I and 1.25 days in group II, and operative time was 61 minutes in group I and 51 minutes in group II. There was no remarkable difference in complications or length of hospital stay between the groups. The groups were comparable in all other parameters, but the lateral approach was ergonomically better for the surgeon.

CONCLUSION

Of the approaches described for laparoscopic SH repair, the modified lateral TAPP approach is more convenient because it provides better and more adequate lateral and inferior space access and is ergonomically better for surgeons.

Laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal and transabdominal preperitoneal approaches are equally effective for spigelian hernia repair

INTRODUCTION

Spigelian hernias (SH) are rare intraparietal abdominal wall hernias occurring just medial to the semilunar line. Several small series have reported on laparoscopic SH repair and both totally extraperitoneal (TEP) and transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approaches have been described. However, there are limited outcome data including both of these techniques. We present the largest series to date of laparoscopic SH repair comparing both popular approaches.

METHODS

Consecutive patients (n = 77) undergoing laparoscopic SH repair from 2009 to 2019 were identified from a prospectively managed quality database. All procedures were performed at a single institution. Patients were divided based on laparoscopic approach used, TEP group (n = 37) and TAPP group (n = 40). Comparison of patient demographics, surgical characteristics, and post-operative complications between TAPP and TEP groups was made using the Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTS

Individuals undergoing TAPP had higher mean BMI (29.3 ± 5.4 vs. 26.3 ± 5.6 kg/m²; p = 0.019) and were more likely to have had prior abdominal surgery (65% vs 24.3%, (p < 0.001). Mean procedure length was 77 ± 45 min for TAPP repairs and 48 ± 21 for TEP repairs (p = 0.001). TAPP repairs had a significantly longer median LOS than TEP (25 vs. 7 h; p < 0.001). Days of narcotic use were significantly shorter after TEP repair than for TAPP (0 vs. 3; p = 0.007) and return to ADL was significantly shorter after TEP repair than for TAPP (5 vs. 7 days; p = 0.016. There were no significant differences in readmission, reoperations, SSI, or recurrence between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Our large series revealed that both preperitoneal laparoscopic approaches, TEP, and TAPP, for SH repair are equally safe, effective, and can be performed on an outpatient basis. Therefore, we suggest that the approach used for repair should be based on surgeon experience, preference, and individual patient factors.