Swelling after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair of inguinal hernias: review of one surgeon's experience in 1,065 cases.
BACKGROUND
It is often difficult to assess the clinical significance of scrotal or operative site swelling after a laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) repair of an inguinal hernia. Specifically, surgeons are often faced with the dilemma of determining whether such a swelling is a recurrent hernia or just a swelling only.


METHODS
A total of 1,065 laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repairs were performed on 944 patients by a single surgeon between December 2000 and December 2008, and we reviewed these data.


RESULTS
The overall incidence of swelling formation was 6.5% (70 of 1,065 cases). Swellings were more frequent in males, and in association with the following diagnoses: indirect inguinal hernias, larger hernia defects, scrotal hernias, omental incarcerations, and the presence of residual distal sacs. Fifty-eight (83%) of 70 patients who had swelling after laparoscopic TEP did not need any intervention for swelling and the swelling resolved spontaneously.


CONCLUSIONS
Although postoperative swellings are a common complication after laparoscopic TEP repairs of inguinal hernias, swellings are minor complications, are not associated with hernia recurrence, and generally subside spontaneously.
Department of Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 140-743, Korea.
Yoon Young
YY
Choi
Zisun
Z
Kim
Kyung Yul
KY
Hur
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004487:Edema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors