title: Laparoscopic femoral hernia repair using umbilical ligament as plug.
abstract: A novel technique for the laparoscopic repair of femoral hernia is described. An 11-year-old boy who had undergone previous open inguinal herniorrhaphy presented with a persistent bulge in the ipsilateral groin. At laparoscopic exploration, a small femoral hernia was discovered. It was reduced with extrinsic compression and the defect closed laparoscopically using a permanent purse-string suture. The ipsilateral umbilical ligament was dissected off the abdominal wall and secured (plugged) over the internal opening, providing a tension-free repair. The immediate postoperative result was satisfactory and there was minimal postoperative pain. Two-year follow-up confirmed adequate repair, without recurrence. This laparoscopic technique enabled diagnostic precision, contralateral evaluation, and a novel means of patching and buttressing the peritoneal closure with umbilical ligament. The procedure is safe, simple, and provides excellent functional and cosmetic results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5733, USA.
authors.forename: Danagra Georgia
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ikossi
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: Baird
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mallory
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006550:Hernia, Femoral / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008022:Ligaments / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012086:Reoperation; D014472:Umbilicus