title: Preliminary experience with laparoscopic repair of associated inguinal and umbilical hernias in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors report their preliminary experience in laparoscopic repair of associated inguinal and umbilical hernias in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients affected by the association of inguinal and umbilical hernia with an umbilical defect larger than 5 mm underwent a laparoscopic procedure. A 5-mm trocar was placed through the umbilical defect for the optic. To fix the trocar to avoid loss of carboperitoneum, we fashioned and tightened a purse-string non-absorbable suture with a sliding knot around the defect. In this manner, we ensured the trocar, fixing it and avoiding any loss of CO2, proceeding safely to the laparoscopic IH repair, by means of two additional 3 mm operative trocars. At the end of the inguinal herniorrhaphy, the previously fashioned purse-string suture was tightened to repair the umbilical defect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operative time for the repair of associated inguinal and umbilical hernias was 30.1 ± 7.4 min in cases of unilateral inguinal hernia and 39.5 ± 10.6 for bilateral inguinal hernia. Follow-up ranged from 8 to 32 months. Neither intra- nor post-operative complications nor recurrences were seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This small sample suggests that this simple method is safe, effective and might be useful for pediatric surgeons performing laparoscopic repair for inguinal hernia in presence of an associated UH with a statistically significant decrease of operative time.
authors.affiliation: S.C. di Clinica Chirurgica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Loc. S. Andrea delle Fratte, 06100, Perugia, Italy, mirkobertozzi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertozzi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magrini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Appignani
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D013536:Suture Techniques