Evolving techniques in endoscopic extraperitoneal herniorrhaphy.
Endoscopic extraperitoneal herniorrhaphy (EEPH) was utilized to repair 326 groin hernias in 249 patients over a 32-month period. Nearly one in ten of the repairs was for a recurrent hernia. Several patients had contralateral hernias diagnosed only at the time of endoscopic examination. A recurrence rate of 1.6% and an overall complication rate of 5.2% are cited. After a plateau was reached on the surgeon's learning curve, various modifications in technique were implemented. Through these modifications, EEPH has become a safe, efficient, and standardized operation that can be performed with decreasing costs to the hospital and with increasing advantages to the patient.
Department of Surgery, Staten Island University Hospital, NY 10305, USA.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence