One inch incision-mesh plug repair versus laparoscopic trans-abdominal preperitoneal repair of the primary indirect inguinal hernia: a prospective comparative study

Background: Management of inguinal hernia by minimally invasive incision and minimal dissection with optimal outcomes remains an unmet need for general surgeons. The most common hernia repair procedures are Lichtenstein hernioplasty and laparoscopic hernia repair; TAPP and TEP. The modification of mesh plug repair (MPR); one inch incision-MPR (OI-MPR); could achieve optimal outcomes comparable to that of laparoscopic hernia repair. The objective of the study was to assess OI-MPR approach for management of primary indirect inguinal hernia and its outcomes in comparison to laparoscopic TAPP repair.Methods: During the period from September 2017 to March 2019, 63 patients with indirect inguinal hernia were selected randomly to one of two groups; group-A included 35 patients underwent one inch incision-mesh plug repair (OI-MPR), group-B included 28 patients underwent laparoscopic TAPP.Results: The mean operative time of group-A was 31.74±4.74 min which was significantly shorter than that of group-B (81.22±7.44 min). The mean hospital stay duration in group-A was 0.57±0.18 day and in group-B, it was 1.18±0.39 day. The patients of group-A returned to normal physical activities earlier than the patients of group-B. The duration of postoperative pain was shorter and less severe in group-A than that of group-B. Regarding complications, there was no statistically significant difference found between both groups.Conclusions: One inch incision-MPR is a simple, feasible and cost-effective approach with low morbidities and low burden on the patients and the healthcare facilities.

Case study: diagnosis and operative management of de Garengeot hernia without appendectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic

de Garengeot herniae have been reported in <100 cases in literature. They are characterized by an incarcerated femoral hernia containing the appendix. We present the case of a 45-year-old female who, upon emergency intraoperative consultation to a general surgeon while having a right groin exploration by a plastic surgeon, was found to have an appendix incarcerated within a femoral hernia. There was no evidence of appendicitis; thus, appendix was reduced and the hernia was repaired with a mesh plug. The patient did well postoperatively, with no complications and returned to complete activities. This occurred during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Due to the common failure in preoperative diagnosis, it is important for surgeons to have a clinical suspicion for de Garengeot herniae for patients, presenting with a right groin bulge. Appendectomy may be safely avoided, eliminating appendectomy-associated morbidity and avoiding hospital transfer and the associated risk of COVID-19 exposure.