Urological complications of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a case series.

OBJECTIVES

To illustrate urological complications of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair and discuss their management.

PATIENTS: Between April 2002 and February 2004, four men (aged 38-63 years) were treated for serious complications 2 days to 11 years after unilateral (1 patient) or bilateral (3 patients) laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty.

RESULTS

In all cases (extra and intraperitoneal bladder injury, purulent urocystitis due to mesh-erosion of the bladder, secondary retroperitoneal fibrosis) open revision with complete drainage of the urinary tract was chosen as an efficacious therapeutic strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

Awareness of rare complications of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair may lead to early diagnosis and appropriate management.