Cholecystectomy and hernioplasty during the same laparoscopic procedure.

Cholelithiasis and inguinal or femoral hernia usually coexist in the same patient. The simultaneous laparoscopic approach to these diseases benefits the patients, who avoid two separate admissions to the hospital, two operations, and twice the cost, recuperation, and potential morbidity and mortality. The authors describe a technique that facilitates cholecystectomy and hernioplasty during the same laparoscopic approach, thus avoiding the use of two separate procedures. The results of this procedure in the first six patients were excellent.