Introduction:

Currently the Lichtenstein technique is the most used worldwide for inguinal hernia repair, however, the laparoscopic approach has been gaining ground in recent years. The objective of the present work is to present and analyze our experience with the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) technique for the treatment of this pathology.

Methods:

A retrospective study by the revision of our electronic database and the Santa Sofía clinic physical medical records, of the patients with groin hernia diagnosis treated by the authors in the last 8 years. The cases with the laparoscopic approach were included, collecting sex, age, pre and intraoperative diagnosis, additional procedures, surgical time, perioperative complications, hospital stay, and morbidity.

Results:

A 158 inguinal hernia repairs were collected in 102 patients, 87 males, and 13 females, of which 135 (85.4%) were through laparoscopic approach TAPP type. By means of laparoscopy, the preoperative diagnosis was modified in 17 patients (16.6%). Mean surgical time was 50.5±11.6 minutes, and 3 perioperative complications and 4 late complications were observed, for total morbidity of 5.1%. Hospital stay was 1±0.08 days, and mean follow-up was 7.5±15.4 months, detecting 3 recurrences (2.2%) at that time. Five patients presented chronic postoperative pain, none debilitating, which gradually yielded in all cases by common pain relievers.

Conclusions:

The TAPP technique is a valid alternative for the treatment of an inguinal hernia. Its main advantages are to optimize the diagnosis, allowing the repair of clinically undiagnosed hernias in one surgical time, and its low incidence of chronic postoperative pain.