title: Preperitoneal approach for femoral hernia repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although Lichtenstein's procedure is the standard procedure in surgical hernia treatment, and the role of laparoscopic hernia repair is constantly increasing, preperitoneal approach for femoral hernia repair should be equally considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  After the horizontal incision of transversal fascia, preperitoneal space is visualized. The hernial sac is opened and its content is placed in the abdominal cavity, or if there is a need, resection is performed. Once the peritoneum is sutured, the iliopubic tract and Cooper's ligament are bridged with two or three sutures in the medial portion of the femoral ring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1998 to 2008, 94 patients were treated for femoral hernia using the preperitoneal approach. Out of 94 participants, 86 were female. Intestinal obstruction was present in 48 cases. Resection of the small intestine or omentum was performed in 40 patients. There was no perioperative mortality. We observed early postoperative complications in 4 patients. Following the procedure, there was no recurrence of the femoral hernia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that preperitoneal repair is the method of choice in surgical treatment of femoral hernia. The surgical technique is simple and feasible, while fully acknowledging the functional anatomy of the inguinofemoral region and the etiology of the condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Split, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nikica
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Družijanić
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sršen
authors.forename: Zenon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pogorelić
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mijaljica
authors.forename: Joško
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juričić
authors.forename: Zdravko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Perko
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraljević
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krnić
authors.forename: Kanito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bilan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006550:Hernia, Femoral / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome