A preperitoneal approach in the prosthetic repair of inguinal hernia.

A series of one hundred consecutive patients who underwent prosthetic repair of inguinal hernia through a preperitoneal approach is reported. In 49% the hernia was recurrent. A large prosthetic sheet (Dacron or Teflon) is placed between the peritoneal sac and the wall, to cover the inguinal, femoral and hypogastric regions as well as the abdominal incision. It is not fixed but kept in place by abdominal pressure. The spermatic cord passes through a slit in the sheet that is closed afterwards. There were no recurrences and only one infection. The follow-up, however, is still short (60% of the patients (81 hernias) over one year, 37% (49 hernias) over two years).