To compare the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) and laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) repair for umbilical hernia.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 49 patients with umbilical hernia treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from July 2023 to December 2024. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical approach they underwent: the TAPP group (25 cases) and the IPOM group (24 cases). Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, hernia recurrence, surgical site/mesh infection, seroma, foreign body sensation, and postoperative pain were compared.

There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding baseline characteristics, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, recurrence rate, surgical site/mesh infection rate, or seroma formation rate. However, the TAPP group demonstrated a longer operative time [ (126.96±13.92) min vs. (91.38±6.23) min, P<0.05], while showing significantly lower postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain [(2.32±0.56) vs. (4.33±1.01)] and reduced incidence of foreign body sensation (4% vs. 25%, P<0.05).

Although TAPP prolongs operative time, it can significantly improve the patient's postoperative recovery experience. Its safety and short-term efficacy are comparable to IPOM, providing an alternative surgical option for umbilical hernia repair. Further large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are needed to validate these advantages.