title: Fifteen-year experience in managing obturator hernia: from open to laparoscopic approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obturator hernia is a rare disease and preoperative diagnosis is always difficult. There are increasing reports employing laparoscopic approach in the recent literature. Our aim was to review and compare the open and laparoscopic approach in repairing obturator hernia.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with obturator hernia from 1997 to 2011 were recruited. Patient's demographics, presentation, operative details, morbidity, and mortality were retrospectively collected and reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 36 patients during the 15-year period. All of them were elderly ladies (median 83). Nineteen underwent open surgery while 16 received laparoscopic surgery. Both age and ASA were comparable. The median operative time was 68 and 65 min for laparoscopic and open group, respectively (p = 0.690). The median hospital stay was significantly longer in the open group (19 vs 5 days, p = 0.007). There were less major complications (p = 0.004) and mortality (p = 0.049) in the laparoscopic group. Two recurrences were reported in the laparoscopic group, although statistically not significant (p = 0.202).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic repair can achieve a shorter hospital stay and has lesser major complications and mortality in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong SAR, China, dennis_ckng@yahoo.com.hk.
authors.forename: D C K
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: K L M
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: M K W
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006553:Hernia, Obturator / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
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