Inguinal hernioplasty in children-open or laparoscopic?: A retrospective cohort study of 1,072 cases.

PURPOSE

The most common surgical intervention in childhood is inguinal hernioplasty. The advantage of laparoscopic approach is still questionable, therefore our aim was to compare open hernia repair (OHR) and PIRS (Percutaneous Internal Ring Suturing) technique at the authors' institute.

METHODS

An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2013 and 2021. Patients were included with hernioplasties under 18 years. The number of contralateral patent processus vaginalis, length of hospital stay, complications and recurrences were analysed.

RESULTS

1,072 surgeries were performed (OHR: 836, PIRS: 236) in 959 patients with the mean age of 4.2 years. During the study period 86 incarcerated hernias were treated: 85/86 following successful reduction with postponed surgery (77 open and eight PIRS) and 1/86 acute (open) surgery. Only six complications (OHR: 5, PIRS: 1, p = 0.86) and 22 recurrences were registered (open:15, PIRS: 7, p = 0.22). The average length of hospital stay was 1.13 days (OHR: 1.3, PIRS: 1.13 days, p = 0.82). PIRS identified contralateral patent processus vaginalis in 22.45% of cases initially diagnosed as unilateral.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that both techniques are equally safe, with no statistically significant differences observed in terms of hospital stay duration, recurrence rates, or complication rates.