Simultaneous bilateral laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair

Background: We compare the use of unilateral and simultaneous bilateral laparoscopic hernioplasty [transabdominal preperitoneal patch (TAPP)] Method: We employed a prospective consecutive single-center trial lasting from April 1993 to December 2000. Results: In our study, 5524 consecutive patients underwent 6860 laparoscopic hernia repairs. The median age in group A (unilateral repair, n = 4188) was 58 years (16–94 years), and that in group B (simultaneous bilateral repair, n = 1336) was 60 years (19–97 years) in (simultaneous bilateral repair, n = 1336). Morbidity in group A was 3.2% (135/4188) with a 0.6% reoperation rate (24/4188); in group B morbidity was 5.0% (67/1336) with a 1.4% reoperation rate. (19/1336). Morbidity and reoperation rates showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in relation to number of repairs in group B. After a median 24-month clinical follow-up period (1–84 months) (followup rate 93.1%) 38 recurrences were observed in group A (0.9%) and 17 in group B (0.6%; 17/2672) (p = 0.2668). Median time off work was 14 days after unilateral (2–63 days) and 17 days after bilateral repair (3–100 days) (p = 0.1359). Pain levels (numerical analogue scale) and incidence of persistent inguinal and scrotal pain are not higher after bilateral repair. Conclusion: Compared to unilateral repair, bilateral simultaneous laparoscopic hernia repair (TAPP) is safe, comfortable for patients, and cost-effective, without increased morbidity or recurrence risk. Bilateral inguinal hernia is an ideal indication for endoscopic transabdominal repair.