The Feasibility and Potential Advantages of Laparoscopic Management of Incarcerated Obturator Hernia Over the Open Approach

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and potential advantages of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of incarcerated obturator hernia (IOH).Materials and Methods: Clinical data of 23 patients with IOH who underwent emergency surgery at our hospital from June 2015 to October 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics and surgery outcomes were compared between the laparoscopic group, open group, and the previously published data.Results: Twelve patients with IOH were treated by laparoscopic management, while 11 patients with IOH underwent open surgery. There was no statistically significant difference in preoperative general data between the 2 groups, while the laparoscopic group had less intraoperative blood loss, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and lower postoperative complications compared with open group. Furthermore, when compared with the open group reported in previous literature, which showed similar conclusions. Conclusion:Laparoscopic surgery for IOH showed more favorable advantages including less intraoperative blood loss, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and lower postoperative complications compared with an open approach, which is a safe and feasible minimally invasive strategy and has certain advantages.

The “Little‐Old‐Lady’s Hernia”, Obturator Hernia: A Case Report and Literature Review

“…Interestingly, obturator hernias are twice as commonly observed on the right side [ 15 ]. This asymmetry is attributed to the anatomical location of the sigmoid colon, which predominantly occupies the left side of the pelvis which may lead to increased pressure and vulnerability on the right side, predisposing individuals to herniation in that specific area [ 5 , 7 , 11 ].…”

“…However, laparoscopic repair has some advantages over open procedures. It has been associated with less bleeding, a shorter postoperative length of stay, and fewer postoperative complications compared with an open approach [ 7 , 15 , 26 ]. Specifically, one study by Schizas et al [ 5 ] demonstrated that laparoscopic repair was associated with a significantly reduced postoperative morbidity rate, with less than 10% of cases requiring conversion to laparotomy.…”