Safety and efficiency of laparoscopic femoral hernia repair with preserved uterine round ligament

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) technique with or without preserved uterine round ligament for the repair of femoral hernias (FHs), on the female patients treated at a single centre. Study Design: Comparative-descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of General Surgery Center, Linyi People's Hospital, Shandong University, from January 2010 to December 2016. Methodology: A total of 62 patients were randomly divided into traditional TAPP (T-TAPP) group and modified TAPP (M-TAPP) group, and all the procedures had been successfully completed. The operative time, recurrences and complications were investigated and compared. Results: Twenty-six patients were randomised into T-TAPP group and 36 patients were randomised into M-TAPP group. There was no obvious difference in terms of age and body mass index between the two groups. The follow-up period was 24 to 90 months. Uterine prolapse occurred in five patients in T-TAPP group, but none in the M-TAPP group. There was significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05). There was also no significant difference in terms of postoperative infection or recurrence of hernia between the two groups nor was there any significant difference between the two groups in development of seroma, post-procedure pain and foreign body sensation during the long-term follow-up. Conclusion: The modified TAPP is a safe technique with a very low rate of recurrence and a low incidence of chronic pain, which retained the function of the uterine round ligament. It is an ideal method for the treatment of femoral hernia in female.