This study aimed to identify risk factors contributing to recurrence after single-incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (SILTEP) inguinal hernia repair.

A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of patients who underwent SILTEP repair performed by a single surgeon between 2016 and 2021. The learning curve for the procedure was assessed using the moving average method and a cumulative sum (CUSUM) control chart based on operative times. Intraoperative complications were defined as events requiring additional port placement, peritoneal tears, conversion to open surgery, or visceral or vascular injuries.

A total of 180 patients underwent SILTEP repair during the study period, of whom 172 met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Recurrence occurred in 12 patients (7.0%). The CUSUM analysis revealed an inflection point at 30 cases, indicating stabilization of operative times to under 57 min. The first 30 cases were categorized as the learning phase. Univariate analysis identified several factors associated with recurrence, including the learning period, recurrent hernia, operative time exceeding 57 min, intraoperative blood loss > 20 cc, and the presence of intraoperative complications. However, multivariate analysis revealed that intraoperative complications were the sole independent predictor of recurrence after SILTEP repair (hazard ratio, 13.38; p = 0.03).

Intraoperative complications were identified as the only independent risk factor for recurrence after SILTEP repair. These findings highlight the need to minimizing intraoperative complications to improve outcomes and reduce recurrence rates in patients undergoing SILTEP repair.

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of retrograde puncture for trocar placement for the establishment of the preperitoneal space in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair (TEP) for groin hernias.

A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 1388 patients who underwent TEP surgery for a groin hernia at the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (hereinafter referred to as the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command) from August 2013 to August 2023 was conducted. The feasibility and safety of retrograde puncture for trocar placement for the establishment of the preperitoneal space were examined.

All 1388 operations were successful, with no conversion to open surgery. The mean time for unilateral placement of the Trocars was 6.36 ± 2.32 min. The mean time for unilateral hernia surgery was 42.73 ± 10.33 min, and the mean time for bilateral hernia surgery was 73.11 ± 20.31 min. Peritoneal injuries were observed in 8 patients (0.58%), but there were no abdominal organ injuries. Two patients (0.14%) had inferior epigastric vascular injuries, and 16 patients (1.15%) experienced muscle hemorrhage during retrograde puncture. Twenty-five patients (1.80%) had postoperative local hematomas of the abdominal wall, and 37 patients (2.67%) had subcutaneous emphysema. Sixty-four patients (4.61%) experienced seroma retention, and 13 patients (0.94%) experienced urinary retention. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 3 to 124 months, with a median follow-up time of 66 months. None of the patients experienced recurrence, persistent pain, localized foreign body sensation, mesh infection, or incision infection.

The retrograde puncture method for placing trocars to establish the preperitoneal space in laparoscopic TEP surgery for groin hernias is feasible and safe.

Aim: Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) provides improved cosmesis compared with multiport laparoscopy. However, it involves hand-clashing and cross-triangulation, making it challenging even for experienced surgeons to adopt in their practice. This study aims to assess the effect of providing an additional view of the surgeon's hands on task performance in SILS. Methods: Surgically naive participants were recruited via volunteer sampling and instructed to perform tasks using a laparoscopic trainer set and a singular triport access device. A head-mounted camera was worn by the participant and angulated inferiorly to provide an additional view of the operators' hands. Both views were displayed on a 90″ monitor. Tasks were performed with and without the additional view in an alternating manner. Attempts were recorded and assessed blindly for duration and success. Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests were applied as required. A P value <.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 467 attempts were conducted by 30 volunteers. The pass rates were 79.09% and 69.23% for the additional and traditional views, respectively (P = .015). A trend toward shorter durations was seen in attempts using the additional view (P = .128). Males (P = .003) and PC video game players (P = .022) were more likely to pass and mobile video game players were more likely to fail (P = .003). Conclusion: The use of a head-mounted camera to directly visualize surgeon's hands enhances performance in an ex vivo setting. More research is needed to assess clinical impact.

The aim of this study was to introduce and assess the safety and feasibility of single incision laparoscopic totally preperitoneal hernioplasty (SIL-TPP) for bilateral inguinal hernia repair.

Forty-two SIL-TPP procedures for bilateral inguinal hernia repair were conducted from June 2018 to July 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University using standard laparoscopic instruments and a single-port device. Clinical data such as demographic intraoperative parameters and short-term postoperative outcomes were collected and analysed.

SIL-TPP was successful in 42 bilateral inguinal hernia patients, and no conversion occurred. Of these 42 patients, 38 were males and 4 were females. The average age was 57.4 ± 17 years. The participants' mean BMI was 22.67 ± 2.19 kg/m2 (range from 18.65 to 28.71 kg/m2). There were 4 types of bilateral hernias. The percentage of patients who underwent surgery before the SIL-TPP procedure in the same region was 21.43% (9/42). The mean operative time was 114 ± 34.24 min (range, 70-215 min). A total of 11 intraoperative complications occurred in 42 bilateral inguinal hernia patients, including unintentional peritoneum tears and hernia sac tears. No major complications occurred in the study. The postoperative complication rate was 2.38% (1/42). One patient experienced intestinal obstruction after the operation that resolved spontaneously without treatment. The surgical time in the SIL-TPP group decreased gradually as the number of operations increased. Moreover, the operation time trend decreased linearly (P < 0.0001, R²=0.42).

SIL-TPP is a safe and feasible procedure for treating bilateral inguinal hernias. The SIL-TPP procedure requires distinct skills and has specific advantages in treating bilateral hernias. Large-scale randomized controlled studies comparing SIL-TPP with conventional single-port and three-port laparoscopic TEP for bilateral inguinal hernia are needed to confirm these results.

This study aimed to report the safety and feasibility of single-incision robotic totally extra-peritoneal repair (TEP) with the da Vinci Xi platform.

We prospectively included patients with unilateral inguinal hernia who underwent elective single-incision robotic TEP between August 10, 2021 and December 12, 2022. The primary outcome was the determination of postoperative complications, and secondary outcomes were quality of life and recurrence rate.

Twenty patients were included in this study. The median age of patients was 60 (interquartile range [IQR], 44.8-62) years, and most were male (90%). Eighteen patients had an indirect hernia. The median total operative time was 70 (IQR, 60.5-82.0) min, the median docking time was 5 (IQR, 3.3-6.0) min, and the median console time was 42 (IQR, 30.3-49.8) min. No postoperative complications occurred within six months postoperatively. We observed an upward trend in quality of life, which was low preoperatively, with improvement noted one month postoperatively. During the six-month follow-up period, there were no cases of recurrence.

For uncomplicated inguinal hernias, single-incision robotic TEP using the da Vinci Xi platform can be selectively and safely attempted.

The TransREctus sheath PrePeritoneal procedure (TREPP) was introduced as an alternative open and preperitoneal technique for inguinal hernia mesh repair, demonstrating safety and efficacy in retro- and prospective studies. However, little is known about the technique's inherent learning curve. In this study, we aimed to determine TREPP learning curve effects after its implementation in high-volume surgical practice.

All primary, unilateral TREPP procedures performed in the first three years after implementation (between January 2016 and December 2018) were included out of a large preconstructed regional inguinal hernia database. Data were analyzed on outcome (i.e., surgical complications, hernia recurrences, postoperative pain). Learning curve effects were analyzed by assessing outcome in relation to surgeon experience.

In total, 422 primary, unilateral TREPP procedures were performed in 419 patients. In three patients a unilateral TREPP procedure was performed on both sides separated in time. A total of 99 surgical complications were registered in 83 procedures (19.6% of all procedures), most commonly inguinal postoperative pain (8%) and bleeding complications (7%). Hernia recurrences were observed in 17 patients (4%). No statistically significant differences on outcome were found between different surgeon experience (< 40 procedures, 40-80 procedures, > 80 procedures).

Implementation of TREPP seems not to be associated with a notable increase of adverse events. We were not able to detect a clear learning curve limit, potentially suggesting a relatively short learning curve among already experienced hernia surgeons compared to other guideline techniques.

The totally preperitoneal (TPP) approach is a new concept that was recently introduced. Although the TPP approach combined with single-incision laparoscopic hernia repair has its own advantages, there is little evidence reflecting the characteristics and feasibility of either approach.

To analyze the potential applications of single-incision laparoscopic TPP (SIL-TPP) inguinal hernia hernioplasty for the treatment of inguinal hernias.

A total of 152 SIL-TPP surgeries were performed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University from February 2019 to November 2022. A single-port, named Iconport, and standard laparoscopic instruments were used during the operation. Demographic data, intraoperative parameters and short-term postoperative outcomes were collected and retrospectively analyzed.

The demographic data of 152 patients underwent SIL-TPP were shown in Table 1. The average age was 49.5 years (range from 21 to 81 years). The average body mass index was 27.7 kg/m2 (range from 17.7 kg/m2 to 35.6 kg/m2). SIL-TPP were conducted successfully in 147 patients. Three patients were converted to the SIL-transabdominal preperitoneal laparoscopic herniorrhaphy at the initial stage of the study due to a lack of experience. In 2 patients with incisional hernias, an auxiliary operation hole was added during the SIL-TPP procedure, as required for surgery. The mean operative time was 64.5 minutes (range: 36.0-110.0 minutes) for unilateral direct and femoral hernias and 81.6 minutes for indirect hernias (range: 40.0-150.0 minutes). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.4 days.

SIL-TPP is feasible and has advantages for inguinal hernia repair. SIL-TPP has potential benefits for patients with various abdominal wall hernias. Consequently, doctors should be encouraged to actively apply the TPP approach combined with a single incision in their daily work.

To explore the efficacy and safety of single-incision laparoscopic (SIL) technique compared with the traditional three-port total extraperitoneal (TEP) technique for inguinal hernia repair.

This prospective, randomised study involved patients who underwent surgery for inguinal hernia at our hospital from December 2021 to July 2023. Patients were randomly assigned to SIL-TEP or TEP groups based on a computer-generated random number table. Perioperative clinical indicators for the surgical approaches were evaluated.

Of the 127 patients eligible for study, 66 were randomised to the SIL-TEP group and 61 to the TEP group. The operation time for SIL-TEP was significantly longer than for TEP but the time to return to normal activities was significantly shorter and short-term pain score was significantly lower. There were no differences between groups in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stays, pain relief time, hospitalization costs or cosmetic satisfaction scores.

While SIL-TEP is more challenging than TEP for hernia repair, we found that at our centre it is comparable with regard to overall safety and feasibility. Further studies are needed to validate our findings.

The aim of this study is to compare the feasibility and efficacy of two-port (single incision plus one port) laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal repair (TEP) with single-port TEP for the treatment of inguinal hernia. We performed a retrospective comparative study from a prospectively maintained database. A cohort of 229 patients with inguinal hernia who underwent TEP were included. Of these patients, 124 underwent two-port TEP and 105 underwent single-port TEP. Differences in surgical outcomes were compared. The mean operative time was shorter in the two-port TEP group compared to the single-port TEP group (55.3 ± 13.1 vs. 65.1 ± 16.6 min, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of other surgical outcomes including postoperative pain, postoperative hospital stay, time to resume daily activities, cosmetic satisfaction and complications. Two-port TEP is associated with a shorter operative time compared to single-port TEP, while the other outcomes evaluated in this study appear to be comparable.

Totally preperitoneal hernioplasty (TPP) is a concept which was introduced for distinguishing with totally extraperitoneal (TEP). There is few evidence reflecting the single incision laparoscopic totally preperitoneal (SIL-TPP) characteristic. The aim of study is to demonstrate the feasibility of single incision laparoscopic totally preperitoneal hernioplasty (SIL-TPP) and compare the outcomes with the single incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernioplasty (SIL-TEP) technique.

During August 2018 and July 2022, 200 inguinal hernia patients received SIL-TPP and 56 patients received SIL-TEP in the First hospital of Ningbo university. The demographics, clinical characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative parameters were retrospectively analysed.

SIL-TPP and SIL-TEP hernia repair were successfully conducted in all patients. There was no conversation happened in two group. Patients' demographics were comparable when compared between the two groups adding the comparison initial 52 cases analysis (P > 0.05). The mean unilateral hernia operative time was significant shorter in the SIL-TPP group than SIL-TEP group (unilateral: 81.38 ± 25.32 vs. 95.96 ± 28.54, P: 0.001). Further study of unilateral hernia operative time revealed the mean indirect hernia operative time was significant shorter in the SIL-TPP group than SIL-TEP group (indirect: 81.38 ± 25.33 vs. 95.87 ± 28.54, P: 0.001). The unilateral hernia operation time trend of initial 52 cases of two group analysis revealed the operation time of SIL-TPP reduced faster than SIL-TEP along with treating number increasing (Figs. 2 and 3). The comparison of initial equal quantity unilateral hernia patient mean operative time revealed the SIL-TPP group was significant shorter than SIL-TEP group (85.77 ± 22.76 vs. 95.87 ± 28.54, P: 0.049). The rate of peritoneum tearing of SIL-TPP group was significant high than SIL-TEP (P = 0.005).

SIL-TPP hernia repair is a superior procedure and possess its own distinguished advantages. We recommend it rather than SIL-TEP for treating inguinal hernia, especially for indirect hernia. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials comparing SIL-TPP and SIL-TEP are needed to confirm these results.

Although there have been numerous studies on single-incision laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (SIL-IHR), the short- and long-term outcomes in patients from a large single institution who underwent single-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernioplasty (SIL-TAPP) have rarely been reported. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of SIL-TAPP and its safety and feasibility in patients from a large single institution.

The details of 1,054 procedures in 966 patients who underwent SIL-TAPP at the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2015 to October 2022 were retrospectively analysed. SIL-TAPP was performed completely through the umbilicus using conventional laparoscopic instruments. Short-term and long-term outcomes of SIL-TAPP were collected by outpatient and telephone follow-ups. In addition, we further compared the operation time, length of postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications of patients with simple and complicated unilateral inguinal hernias.

A total of 1,054 procedures were performed for 878 unilateral inguinal hernias and 88 bilateral inguinal hernias. In total, there were 803 (76.2%) indirect inguinal hernias, 192 (18.2%) direct inguinal hernias, 51 (4.8%) femoral hernias and 8 (0.8%) combined hernias. The mean operative time was 35.5 ± 17.0 min for unilateral inguinal hernias and 51.9 ± 25.5 min for bilateral inguinal hernias. There was one (0.1%) conversion to two-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernioplasty. No intraoperative haemorrhages, inferior epigastric vessel injury or nerve damage occurred. Postoperative complications were minor and could be resolved without surgical intervention. The mean length of hospital stay was 1.3 ± 0.8 days. The median follow-up was 44 months, no trocar hernia occurred, and there was one (0.1%) recurrence. The operation time in the complicated inguinal hernia group was significantly higher than that in the simple inguinal hernia group (38.9 ± 22.3 vs. 35.0 ± 15.6, p = 0.025). The length of postoperative hospital stay and complication rate of the complicated inguinal hernia group were slightly higher than those of the simple inguinal hernia group, but the difference was not statistically significant.

SIL-TAPP is safe and technically feasible, and both short- and long-term outcomes are acceptable.

Single-incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernioplasty is a commonly used surgical procedure for the treatment of inguinal hernia. However, it is difficult to use traditional single incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernioplasty to treat inguinal hernia after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. We successfully and smoothly cured a patient with left inguinal hernia after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy using lateral single incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernioplasty.

We report the case of a 70-year-old man who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy 2 years earlier and had an evanescent mass in the left inguinal region for 1 month.

On the basis of preoperative abdominal computed tomography and intraoperative findings, the patient was diagnosed with a left indirect inguinal hernia, and post-laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

The patient underwent lateral single incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernioplasty.

The patient recovered well after the operation, and there were no postoperative complications or recurrence of inguinal hernia 3 months after the operation.

For patients who have undergone laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, lateral single-incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernioplastycan be performed.

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has a long learning curve. It can be a technically challenging procedure and initially presents an unfamiliar view of inguinal anatomy. The aim of this review was to evaluate published literature relating to the learning curve of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair and identify the number of cases required for proficiency. The secondary aim was to compare outcomes between surgeons before and after this learning curve threshold had been attained.

A systematic literature search was conducted in databases of PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, to identify studies that evaluated the learning curve of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. A meta-regression analysis was undertaken to identify the number of cases to achieve surgical proficiency, and a meta-analysis was performed to compare outcomes between cases that were undertaken during a surgeon's learning phase and experienced phase of the curve.

Twenty-two studies were included in this review, with 19 studies included in the meta-regression analysis, and 11 studies included in the meta-analysis. Mixed-effects Poisson regression demonstrated that there was a non-linear trend in the number of cases required to achieve surgical proficiency, with a 2.7% year-on-year decrease. The predicted number of cases to achieve surgical proficiency in 2020 was 32.5 (p < 0.01). The meta-analysis determined that surgeons in their learning phase may experience a higher rate of conversions to open (OR 4.43, 95% CI 1.65, 11.88), postoperative complications (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.07, 2.42), and recurrences (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.40, 4.30).

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has a well-defined learning curve. While learning surgeons demonstrated reasonable outcomes, supervision during this period may be appropriate given the increased risk of conversion to open surgery. These data may benefit learning surgeons in the skill development of minimally invasive inguinal hernia repairs.