AB170. SOH25_AB_052. An observational cohort study comparing outcomes of transabdominal preperitoneal versus totally extraperitoneal approaches for inguinal hernia repair

Background: This observational study examines the outcomes of two laparoscopic techniques for inguinal hernia repair—transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and totally extraperitoneal (TEP) in 120 patients. Key metrics include operative time, postoperative pain, recovery time, complication rates, and recurrence rates. The results provide insights into the efficacy and safety of each technique, aiding surgical decision-making.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with unilateral inguinal hernia, aged 18 to 75 years, were enrolled. Preoperative data, gathered from HIPE and medical records, included demographics and comorbidities. Key metrics recorded were operative time, postoperative pain, complications (e.g., bleeding, hematoma, chronic pain, infection, seroma), recurrence, and hospital stay. Complications and recurrence were assessed via follow-up calls at 6 weeks and 1 year.

Results: Average operative time was 75 minutes for TAPP and 70 minutes for TEP (P=0.03). At 3 hours post-surgery, pain scores were 5 for TAPP and 4.5 for TEP (P=0.05). Minor complications occurred in 7% of TAPP patients and 5% of TEP patients (P=0.23). The average stay was 1.3 days for TAPP and 1.2 days for TEP (P=0.01). At 1 year, recurrence was 2% for TAPP and 3% for TEP (P=0.47).

Conclusions: This study indicates that TAPP and TEP are similarly effective for inguinal hernia repair. TEP showed advantages in operative time, postoperative pain, and hospital stay. Although TEP had higher readmission and complication rates, these were not statistically significant. The benefits of less pain and faster recovery with TEP suggest potential advantages.

Keywords: Laparoscopic hernia repair; transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP); totally extraperitoneal (TEP); mesh hernia repair; hernia complications