To compare the surgical outcomes and quality of life between TAPP and open preperitoneal repair for the treatment of femoral hernia.

From January 2014 to December 2019, the clinical data of 58 patients with femoral hernia treated at Xinjiang Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the TAPP group (n=31) and the open group (n=27) according to different surgical methods. The surgical outcomes were recorded and compared between the two groups. In addition, the quality of life of the two groups was evaluated and compared before surgery and 1, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery using the Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS).

There was no significant difference in terms of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay and incidence of postoperative complications between the TAPP group and the open group (P>0.05). The VAS score at 24 h after surgery and the utilization rate of postoperative analgesics in the TAPP group were significantly lower than those in the open group (P<0.05). The postoperative ambulation time and the first postoperative feeding time in the TAPP group were significantly longer than those in the open group (P<0.05). After 24 months of follow-up, there were no recurrences in the TAPP group or the open group. Both TAPP and open preperitoneal repair could effectively improve the preoperative pain, movement limitation and overall quality of life of patients (P<0.05). The pain and overall quality of life in TAPP group were better than those in open group one month after surgery (P<0.05).

TAPP and open preperitoneal hernia repair can effectively treat femoral hernia. TAPP can be used as the preferred treatment for patients with femoral hernia without general anesthesia contraindication.The appropriate surgical method for femoral hernia should be individualized according to the patient's own situation and the surgical skill level of the surgeon.