title: Anatomical pitfalls in the technique for total extra peritoneal laparoscopic repair for inguinal hernias.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach for the treatment of inguinal hernia is a well-recognized technique with proven efficacy, low failure rate, and reduced post-operative pain. This laparoscopic technique is reputed to be a more difficult procedure to learn and practice than a laparoscopic trans-abdomino-pre-peritoneal procedure: we hope this is because many surgeons don't well know extra-peritoneal anatomy of groin. So we proposed a "step by step" anatomical analysis, with pitfalls to avoid, of a totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach for treatment of inguinal hernia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our experience with totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair with regard to the morphology of the inguinal-femoral region concerns 23 cadaver dissection and more than 400 surgical procedures, now permits clarification of a surgical technique that has hitherto not been well known.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Photographic representations of surgical views are displayed, and detailed descriptions applicable to anatomical structures are presented.
authors.affiliation: Service Chirurgie Viscérale Digestive et Endocrinienne, Hôpital Jean Bernard, CHU Poitiers, rue de la Miletrie, BP 577, 86021, Poitiers cedex, France. j.p.faure@chu-poitiers.fr
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Faure
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doucet
authors.forename: Ph
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rigouard
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Richer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scépi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity