title: Laparoscopic hernia repair in patients with bilateral groin hernias.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare outcome of unilateral and bilateral laparoscopic hernia repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective consecutive trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  380 patients who had unilateral hernias repaired laparoscopically and 64 patients who had bilateral hernias repaired. The median (range) age in the two groups was 56 (21-86) and 61 (30-85) years, respectively and the median (range) follow-up was 42 (24-58) months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Operating time, hospital stay, complications, and time to recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median (range) operating time was 70 (25-240) minutes in the unilateral and in the bilateral group 113 (55-330) minutes. The complication rate, recurrence rate, and time to full recovery did not differ between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The laparoscopic approach seems to be a good option for patients with bilateral inguinal hernias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kald
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domeij
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wirén
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anderberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013526:Surgical Mesh