Laparoscopic Versus Open Hernia Repair for Indirect Inguinal Hernia in Adolescents: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background and purpose: The optimal surgical approach for inguinal hernia (IH) repair in adolescents has not been established. This study aimed to analyze and compare the perioperative results and long-term outcomes of adolescent patients with IH treated with laparoscopic (LHR) versus open hernia repair (OHR).

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological data of adolescent patients with IH who underwent LHR or OHR as initial treatment from March 2012 to February 2018 at Xinxiang Central Hospital. Clinicopathological factors associated with the prognosis of patients were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) curves between different cohorts of patients were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to match patients of the LHR and OHR groups in a 1:1 ratio.

Results: Adolescent patients with IH were enrolled, including 243 patients in the LHR group and 252 patients in the OHR group. After PSM, 189 patients were matched in each of the study group. Compared with the OHR group, the LHR group had a shorter hospitalization, less blood loss, fewer overall postoperative complications and lower rates of recurrence and chronic pain. The LHR group had a significantly better RFS than the OHR group before and after PSM.

Conclusions: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair for adolescent patients with IH can be safely performed with favorable perioperative and long-term outcomes.