title: Inguinal neurectomy for nerve entrapment after open/laparoscopic hernia repair using retroperitoneal endoscopic approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inguinal neuralgia after open and laparoscopic hernia, repair occurs in about 0.5% of treated patients. If the pain and the functional inability persist, it is possible that the genitofemoral nerve and ileoinguinal nerve are involved in entrapment, and surgical treatment is a possible option. This paper reports a personal endoscopic retroperitoneal approach for ileoinguinal and genitofemoral branches neurectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 12-mm trocar is inserted into the lower retroperitoneum and insufflated to create a work space. Neurectomy is performed under endoscopic guidance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients were treated using this technique. The operating time was 55 min, and all patients were completely pain-free after surgery. All patients were discharged the first day after operation and there were no complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This retroperitoneal endoscopic approach is proposed as a new surgical technique for treating inguinal entrapment neuralgia. It is simple and feasible.
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Laparoscopic and Mini-Invasive Surgery, Clinica Pineta Grande, Via Domitiana, 81030, Castel Volturno, CE, Italy. pglaparomuto@virgilio.it
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pedana
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scarpelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galardo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schiavone
mesh_terms: D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006550:Hernia, Femoral / Q000601:surgery*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010388:Pelvis / Q000294:innervation; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space