Inguinal hernia surgery is a common surgery being performed all over the world. With the advent of laparoscopy, it has also been used in inguinal hernia surgery. Laparoscopy is associated with faster recovery and lower wound complications as compared to open surgery. This study aimed to compare laparoscopy with open repair for inguinal hernia. 60 patients with inguinal hernia were randomised to open and laparoscopic procedures with 30 patients in each group. The duration of surgery, post operative complication, duration of hospital stay and time to return to work were analysed. The mean operating duration was 42.03 +/-6.5 min in open and 84.97+/-13.9 in laparoscopy group. Among the 30 cases that underwent open mesh repair, 3 cases required urethral catheterization for urinary retention, 3 cases suffered chronic pain, 2 cases had wound related complications and 1 had wound infection. The total complication rate of the open group was 30%. Among the 30 cases that underwent laparoscopic repair, only 1 required urethral catheterization for urinary retention and 2 cases had wound related complications, total complication rate for this group being 10%. The mean duration of hospital stay was 1.17+/-0.3 days for laparoscopy group and 2.5+/-0.5 days for open group. The time to return to work was 5.67+/-1.3 days for laparoscopy and 17.37+/-2.5 for open. Thus the use of laparoscopy in inguinal hernia surgery results in faster recovery and reduced complications as compared to open surgery.

Keywords: Laparoscopy, Hernia, Inguinal, Hernioplasty, Mesh repair.

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Dr Renjin R P

Assistant Professor, Dept of General Surgery,

Govt Medical College, Kottyam