Abstract:

Objective

To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP) and open Lichtenstein tension-free hernioplasty in elderly patients with inguinal hernia.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 234 elderly patients with inguinal hernia who underwent surgical treatment at Shijingshan Hospital in Beijing between September 2020 and September 2023.Patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical approach 120 patients received TAPP (TAPP group), and 114 patients underwent Lichtenstein repair (Lichtenstein group).The two groups were compared in terms of operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative pain assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS) at 1 week and 1 month after surgery.Postoperative complications and recurrence rates within a 12-month follow-up period were also recorded and analyzed.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in operative time or 12-month recurrence rates (P>0.05).However, the TAPP group showed significantly lower postoperative pain scores and a lower incidence of surgical complications compared to the Lichtenstein group (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Compared with the Lichtenstein technique, TAPP offers comparable outcomes in terms of operative time and recurrence rate, while providing significant advantages in reducing postoperative pain and complications.When selecting the surgical approach, factors such as the surgeon's proficiency in laparoscopic techniques, clinical experience, and patient preference should be comprehensively considered to determine the most appropriate method.

Key words: Hernia, inguinal, Laparoscopes, Herniorrhaphy