Balloon dissection versus telescopic dissection during laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the outcomes of balloon dissection and telescopic dissection in patients undergoing laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair.

METHODS

A systematic review in accordance with PRISMA statement standards was conducted. A search of electronic information sources was conducted to identify all studies comparing the outcomes of balloon dissection and telescopic dissection in patients undergoing laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair. Random effects modelling was applied to calculate pooled outcome data.

RESULTS

A total of 936 patients from eight studies were included. The included population in both groups were comparable in terms of baseline characteristics. There was no difference between the two techniques in terms of operation time (MD: - 4.14 min, P = 0.05), conversion to another technique (RD: - 0.02, P = 0.29), recurrence (RD: - 0.00, P = 0.84), haematoma (OR: 1.34, P = 0.61), seroma (OR: 0.63, P = 0.56), surgical site infection (RD: 0.00, P = 1.00), urinary retention (OR: 0.92, P = 0.86), postoperative pain score on day 1 (MD: - 0.16, P = 0.69) and day 7 (MD: - 0.16, P = 0.61). Trial sequential analysis of randomised trials suggested that evidence for operative time and conversion to other technique is subject to type 1 and type 2 error.

CONCLUSIONS

Balloon dissection and telescopic dissection during TEP inguinal hernia repair are comparable in terms of operative and postoperative outcomes. The available evidence for operative time and conversion to other technique is subject to type 1 and type 2 error. In presence of comparative clinical outcomes, the cost-effectiveness analysis in future studies may play an important role in determining the dissection technique of choice.