To investigate the application value and effect of laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernia repair(TEP) and laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP) on the respiratory function under general anesthesia in elderly patients with inguinal hernia.

90 elderly patients with inguinal hernia admitted to Lujiang People's Hospital were selected and divided into the TEP group and the TAPP group according to surgical methods, with 45 cases in each group. The operation effect, respiratory function, postoperative recurrence, chronic pain and complications were compared between the two groups.

The duration for patients to resume normal activities in the TAPP group were significantly higher than those in the TEP group, with statistical differences (P<0.05). The levels of end-of-breath carbon dioxide partial pressure (P_ETCO₂) and airway partial pressure (P_aw) at 10 min (T₁), 30 min (T₂), 60 min (T₃) and 90 min (T₄) after pneumoperitoneum in the two groups were higher than those before pneumoperitoneum was established (T₀), and the levels of P_ETCO₂ and P_aw at T₁, T₂, T₃ and T4 in the TEP group were higher than those in the TAPP group, with statistical differences (P<0.05). There were no statistical differences between the two groups in operation time, hospitalization expenses, intraoperative blood loss, and the score of visual analogue pain (VAS), postoperative hospital stay, recurrence and complications, and occurrence of postoperative chronic pain (P>0.05).

TEP and TAPP have good therapeutic effects on elderly inguinal hernia. TEP has advantages in promoting postoperative recovery, but it has more obvious influence on respiratory function.