Open mesh removal combined with laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: A case report of a novel surgical technique for chronic postoperative inguinal pain

Abstract

A 74-year-old man presented for surgical treatment to alleviate chronic post-herniorrhaphy inguinal pain. Physical and imaging examinations suggested that his pain was due to his ilioinguinal nerve being entrapped by a meshoma composed of bilayer mesh and plug mesh. The patient strongly desired mesh removal, although it appeared challenging because of adhesion of the meshes from the previous herniorrhaphies. Anticipating technical difficulty, we performed laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal repair followed by open mesh removal. Thus, the risk of damaging the peritoneum and visceral organs during open mesh removal was eliminated because the peritoneum had already been separated from the pathogenic mesh during the laparoscopic repair. The patient's chronic pain was drastically relieved. Combination surgery may therefore be a safe and useful technique in select patients with chronic postoperative inguinal pain. This approach could also prevent hernia recurrence.