Reduction of recurrence by peritoneal thermal injury in laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure of internal ring for inguinal hernia in children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of peritoneal thermal injury (PTI) in the reduction of recurrence incidence in laparoscopic percutaneous extra-peritoneal closure of internal ring (LPEC) for pediatric inguinal hernia (PIH) in children.

METHODS

Medical records of patients undergoing LPEC for PIH at our center were reviewed and divided into 2 groups: Group A (period from June 2017 to December 2017)-without PTI and Group B (period from January 2018 to December 2018) with PTI. The surgical technique and the type of suture used for LPEC were the same for both groups. The outcomes of the two groups were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

277 patients with 283 IHs in group A were compared to 376 patients with 389 IHs in group B. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, uni- or bilateral hernia. At a median follow-up period of 48 months, there was no hydrocele, suture granuloma, testicular atrophy, or iatrogenic cryptorchidism in both groups. The recurrence rate in group A was 6.4%, significantly higher than 1.8% in group B (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that PTI in LPEC for PIH is safe and associated with a significant reduction of recurrence incidence.