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Burton et al. Mini-invasive Surg 2021;5:26 Mini-invasive Surgery
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1225.2021.26

Review Open Access

Comparison of open and laparoscopic inguinal

hernia repair

Victoria Burton, Arielle J. Perez
Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7288, USA.

Correspondence to: Dr. Arielle J. Perez, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina Health Care Hernia Center,
University of North Carolina, 4008 Burnett Womack Building CB 7228, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7228, USA. E-mail:
Arielle_Perez@med.unc.edu

How to cite this article: Burton V, Perez AJ. Comparison of open and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Mini-invasive Surg
2021;5:26. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1225.2021.26
Received: 25 Feb 2021 First Decision: 18 Mar 2021 Revised: 29 Mar 2021 Accepted: 31 Mar 2021 Available online: 6 Jun 2021

Academic Editor: William W. Hope Copy Editor: Xi-Jun Chen Production Editor: Xi-Jun Chen

Abstract
Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed general surgery operations. Throughout the years
there have been many variations and advancements, including open and laparoscopic techniques, to accomplish
the same task of reducing herniated contents and preventing groin hernia recurrence. An array of factors
contributes to deciding which operative technique is the best approach to managing a patient presenting with an
inguinal hernia. Published data vary due to the heterogeneity of techniques compared, patient presentations, and
surgeon expertise. In experienced hands, laparoscopic repair results in a quicker return to work and reduced
postoperative pain. Patients with bilateral groin hernias, female patients with groin hernias, and patients with
recurrent hernias after prior anterior mesh repair should be offered a laparoscopic preperitoneal mesh approach,
when surgeons have the appropriate skill set and experience. We find that open and laparoscopic techniques of
inguinal hernias can both achieve exceptional outcomes when applied to the right patient population. To know
one’s own capabilities, it is beneficial for surgeons to have baseline familiarity of the multitude of methods of repair,
become proficient in both mesh and mesh-free techniques as well as open and laparoscopic techniques to best
tailor the surgery to the patient and the clinical circumstances, and follow personal outcomes to evaluate individual
results.

Keywords: Hernia, inguinal, herniorrhaphy, laparoscopy, Lichtenstein

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common operations in general surgery, with over 700,000 inguinal

© The Author(s) 2021. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, sharing,
adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as
long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and
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