Experience of a third-level hospital teaching the laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure technique to residents for pediatric inguinal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to present the experience of a third-level hospital teaching inguinal hernia repair through the laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) method to pediatric surgery residents.

METHODS

This study was performed by the Department of Pediatric Surgery of a third-level hospital of clinical care. Eleven residents received pediatric inguinal hernia repair training based on the LPEC method using a Tuohy needle. The mean time of four metrics was used to measure trainees' performance during the inguinal hernia repair procedure through the LPEC method, alongside approval of the procedure by an expert surgeon. Operative times between the first and last surgeries were evaluated using the paired t-student test.

RESULTS

A total of 50 repairs were performed, including 45 unilateral repairs (31 right and 14 left hernias) and 5 bilateral repairs. The follow-up period for all patients was 12 months with no significant complications, no recurrence, and without post-operative hydrocele. The results showed statistically significant differences for umbilical trocar insertion time (p = 0.018), inguinal hernia repair time (p < 0.001), umbilical trocar site closure time (p = 0.029), and the total surgical procedure time (p < 0.001) metrics. The mean time in the last surgical repair procedure was 19.7 ± 5.9 min.

CONCLUSIONS

All pediatric surgery trainees adequately acquired the skills to perform the inguinal hernia repair through the LPEC method. This study provides our experience in implementing this technique in a third-level hospital.