Laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy: classification and 1 year experience.

The laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair of inguinal hernias was utilized in 125 patients in a 12 month period. One hundred and forty three hernias were repaired. These hernias were classified into five different types depending on the site and size of the defect and whether they were primary or recurrent. Cylindrical plugs and screen were used in the first 37 repairs with 2 recurrences and Mushroom Plugs and screen were used in 106 repairs with no recurrences. The two recurrences occurring with the cylindrical plugs were in indirect inguinal hernias with dilated internal rings greater than 2 cm.