Missed lipoma of the spermatic cord. A pitfall of transabdominal preperitoneal laparoscopic hernia repair.

BACKGROUND

Missed lipoma of the spermatic cord is a pitfall unique to the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) laparoscopic hernia repair. This problem occurs when a palpable inguinal mass is noted preoperatively, but no identifiable hernia defect is found at time of laparoscopy and the procedure is terminated.

METHODS

Our group encountered six patients without intraperitoneal defects that had large cord lipomas on preperitoneal exploration. Two of these patients had undergone previous intraabdominal laparoscopy for a proposed TAPP repair, which was aborted when no defect was seen.

RESULTS

Both patients were referred for continued symptomatic groin masses, which were subsequently treated by lipoma resection in conjunction with inguinal floor repair.

CONCLUSIONS

When patients present with a groin mass, exploration of the preperitoneal space and cord structures is indicated during TAPP repair, even in the presence of a normal-appearing abdominal floor. Abandoning a transabdominal approach without exploration of the preperitoneal structures may lead to a failure to identify symptomatic and/or palpable cord lipomas.