To compare the effect of the laparoscopic trans-abdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approach and Lichtenstein approach in the treatment of scrotal inguinal hernia, and our results were focusing on the feasibility of the technique and the incidence of postoperative complications.

Between January 2016 and December 2018, a total of 48 scrotal hernia patients underwent either TAPP repair or Lichtenstein repair. And the intraoperative and postoperative complications were compared, including operative time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative pain, wound and mesh infection, and recurrence.

All procedures were performed successfully, and the overall mean operative time for TAPP was (56±9) minutes, for Lichtenstein was (59±12) minutes, the difference was not statistically significant P>0.05]. The intraoperative bleeding was more for Lichtenstein than TAPP [(30.0±10.5) ml vs (10.0±5.1) ml, (P<0.05), the hospital stay was shorter in TAPP group compared with Lichtenstein group [(9.0±5.2) days vs (3.0±2.4) days, P<0.05] and postoperative pain at 1 week after operation was less in TAPP (3.0±2.4), as compared with Lichtenstein (4.0±1.4), the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). During the follow-up period, there was no mesh infection, recurrence and chronic pain in the two groups. In the Lichtenstein group, there were 6 cases of wound complications (superficial infection and hematoma, blood oozing, and exudation), 6 cases of scrotal effusion. While there were no wound complications, 7 cases of scrotal effusion in the TAPP group. All patients were cured and discharged after dressing change or conservative treatment.

The TAPP can be performed for inguinoscrotal hernia repair with an efficiency comparable to that of open inguinal hernia repair, and the TAPP procedure was associated with less pain, wound complications, and short hospital stay.