The saline ballooning method for peritoneal dissection during laparoscopic herniorrhaphy.

To improve the safety and speed of the peritoneal dissection, we developed a saline ballooning method in which a dull needle is inserted lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels under direct laparoscopic visualization to a tissue plane just superficial to the peritoneum. Then, saline solution is injected. As a result, the peritoneum is easily separated from the spermatic cord and inferior epigastric vessels. Furthermore, bleeding is minimized during dissection of the peritoneum.