Postoperative pain after laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure for inguinal hernia in children: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND

Chronic postoperative inguinal pain (CPIP) is a major complication after hernia repairs in adults. However, little is known about CPIP in children.

METHODS

Charts of 855 children with an average age of 3.7 years (range, 0-18 years) who underwent laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) between April 2016 and December 2023 were reviewed. Pain after one postoperative month (PIP: postoperative inguinal pain) was the primary outcome measure. Of these, pain lasting more than three months was extracted as CPIP.

RESULTS

Nine children (1.1%, four males and five females) complained of PIP. All four males, having undergone LPEC before puberty, had temporary pain. Among four females with PIP, CPIP occurred in three (0.35%), who were effectively treated with psychiatric approaches in two and by a reoperation to release the round ligament in one.

CONCLUSIONS

CPIP was rare after LPEC in children. Adolescent females were at greater risk of CPIP than younger males. Round ligament pain was the cause in one case.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by the institutional review board of Aichi Medical University (approval number: 2023 - 241).