Single-incision laparoscopic surgery: hernia repair

Abstract

In most countries, inguinal hernia repair is the most frequent procedure performed in a surgical practice. Different approaches have been developed during the last decades, with a strong tendency towards tension-free techniques. The laparoscopic approach offers advantages in terms of less postoperative pain and faster recovery with a low incidence in recurrence. In the last few years, single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) has been introduced to further improve surgical outcome and cosmetic results. For SILS inguinal hernia repair, there is little data available so far, but both totally extraperitoneal hernia repair and transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair have been succesfully performed without complications in a limited number of patients. In our experience, totally extraperitoneal hernia repair seems to be an ideal indication for the application of SILS.