Citation Information :
Nayak J, Behera AK, Sahoo R. Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair for Children is the Final Frontier: Experience from a Tertiary Care Center. World J Lap Surg 2024; 17 (1):5-8.
Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) has been conventionally managed by open surgery and herniotomy which is the standard of care. But in the era of minimal access surgery, laparoscopic surgery for pediatric inguinal hernia has emerged as an alternative and is being routinely performed at many centers. Laparoscopic herniotomy is a safe and feasible option for pediatric inguinal hernia in present times. It has shown results similar to well-performed conventional herniotomy procedure with respect to marked reduction in operative time, and postoperative complications, postoperative pain, postoperative hospital stay, low rate of recurrence, no testicular atrophy, no iatrogenic ascent of testis, no postoperative hydrocele formation and excellent cosmesis. It provides a superior tool to diagnose contralateral patency of processus vaginalis (CPPV) or rare hernias that can be managed in the same session with minimal dissection, lesser postoperative complications, and better cosmesis thus favoring its wider adoption among surgeons globally in management of pediatric inguinal hernia.
Method: Data for all elective cases of PIH who underwent initial laparoscopic herniotomy repair in routine operation theater at our tertiary care center, during the period from 1st March 2010 to 1st March 2023 have been collected.
Results: A total of 53 laparoscopic inguinal herniotomies were performed on 50 patients. The median age of patients at the date of operation was 6.2 years. Of all patients, 47 cases were unilateral and 3 were bilateral inguinal hernias (IHs).
Conclusion: Laparoscopic inguinal herniotomy is a technically easier and safer technique than conventional open methods as there is no need for dissection of vas deferens and vessels. Laparoscopic herniotomy allows for the excellent visualization of cord structures and their proper safeguarding during the procedure. Simultaneous identification of CPPV in cases of unilateral IH and its repair reduces the risk of metachronous hernia as well. Less postoperative pain, early recovery, and better cosmesis make laparoscopic surgery the final frontier in the management of PIH, thus cementing its role as a viable and probably a better alternative to conventional repair.
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