Experience of laparoscopic hernia repair in a laparoscopically oriented unit of a large community hospital.

We describe a consecutive series of 258 laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs in 189 patients from January 1997 to December 2004. Early results, complications, and follow-up were collected prospectively. Patients were followed in the outpatient clinic and contacted by phone at the time of this review. Three trocars were employed. The polypropylene mesh was inserted through the periumbilical trocar and fixed in the properitoneal space using titanium clips. There were no conversions and the mean operative time was 88 minutes (including bilateral cases). We had no major intraoperative accidents, and only 12 minor postoperative complications (4 urinary retentions, 6 seromas, and 2 cases of prolonged pain). Walking, hospital discharge, and return to activities were prompt, with a mean hospital stay of 1.7 days, and an average time of absence from work of 16 days. There have been 11 (4%) documented recurrences during long-term follow-up (mean, 62 months). The technique appears safe and efficacious even in a community hospital with a large laparoscopic experience.