title: Laparoscopically assisted repair of inguinal hernia through a micro-incision and extra-peritoneal division and ligation of the hernia sac.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High ligation and division of the hernia sac are the two important steps in open pediatric indirect inguinal hernia repair. We describe a laparoscopically assisted method of delivering the hernia sac through a 5-mm micro-incision with complete division and high ligation of the hernia sac similar to the open repair method.
  
  
  METHODS
  A new laparoscopic technique of pediatric inguinal hernia repair which allows high ligation, complete division and removal of the indirect inguinal hernia sac is described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six patients (15 boys, 11 girls) underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. The mean age was 40 months. 13 patients had bilateral inguinal hernia repair. There were no intra-operative complications and at mean follow-up of 6 months, there was 1 recurrence. No other complications (wound infection, suture granuloma formation, hydrocele) were seen post-operatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new laparoscopically assisted inguinal hernia repair technique combines the advantages of standard open method and laparoscopy. The efficacy of this repair will need confirmation with a longer follow-up and a larger patient series. The effect of traction on cord structure will need to be monitored.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland, 744 52nd Street, Oakland, CA 94609, USA.
authors.forename: Sunghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male