[Inguinal hernia. 4-year follow-up of 2 comparative prospective randomized studies of Shouldice and Stoppa operations with pre-peritoneal totally laparoscopic approach (461 patients)].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the late (4 years) recurrence rate after laparoscopic totally preperitoneal (TPP) approach, to Shouldice and Stoppa procedures. All patients were reviewed at one, six months, one year and yearly there after. The mean follow-up was 4 years: the follow-up was 100 per cent at one month, 98 per cent at 6 months, 95 per cent at one year, 91 per cent at 2 years, 84 per cent at 3 years, 79 per cent at 4 years and 61 per cent at 5 years. At one year, the recurrence rate was 2.2 per cent in the laparoscopic group, 1.2 per cent for Shouldice and 0 per cent for Stoppa procedure (ns). At 3 years, the recurrence rate was comparable and 3.6 per cent for laparoscopy, 5.1 per cent for Shouldice and 5.2 per cent for Stoppa respectively (ns). At 4 years, the recurrence rate was lower (but ns) for the laparoscopic group 7.4 per cent versus 12.5 and 10.5 per cent. Two predictive factors for recurrence in laparoscopic treatment were the size of the mesh and the surgeon's experience.