Laparoscopic mesh repair of strangulated groin hernias requiring bowel resection

Abstract

No robust data support laparoscopic mesh repair in strangulated groin hernias. This is a retrospective review over 6 years of a single surgeon's experience treating strangulated groin hernias using the laparoscopic trans-abdominal preperitoneal mesh repair with concomitant bowel resection through a periumbilical incision. Nine patients presented with incarceration of 2 inguinal and 7 femoral hernias. The median age was 83 years (IQR 68, 85). One patient was male, all were Caucasian, and 5 were ASA 3-4. The median hospital length of stay was 6 days (IQR 4, 7). There were no known hernia recurrences or mesh infections at 30 days. Laparoscopic repair necessitates mesh placement, and doing so in a clean-contaminated setting is acceptably low risk. Laparoscopy permits better assessment of bowel viability compared to open repair and enables mesh coverage of both the inguinal and femoral spaces.