Short-term outcomes of puncturing forceps-assisted laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernioplasty for indirect inguinal hernia: a prospective randomized study.

This study aimed to determine the feasibility and safety of using puncturing forceps in totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernioplasty (TEP), with a comparative analysis against conventional TEP utilizing standard surgical instruments. 44 male patients with primary indirect inguinal hernia were included, 22 received conventional TEP (CTEP) and the other 22 accepted TEP performed with lightweighted instruments (LTEP). Demographic variables, primary outcomes (operative time, operative complications and postoperative length of hospital stay) and short-term outcomes (recurrence, readmission and reoperation within 30 days) were collected and analyzed. There was no statistically significant difference between the LTEP group and the CTEP group in terms of age, BMI, location of indirect inguinal hernia, and ASA score. The mean operative time of LTEP group was 8.77 mins shorter, but the difference was insignificant (60.32 mins vs. 69.09 mins, P = 0.099). A total of thirteen patients suffered peritoneal punching (5 in LTEP group, 8 in CTEP group). There was no seroma and no injury of the inferior epigastric vessel and vas deferens. Postoperative hospital stays, reoperation, readmission and recurrence were similar during follow-up. LTEP has comparable short-term outcomes to CTEP and the feasibility and safety is confirmed.