Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy without pneumoperitoneum.

To study the feasibility of gasless laparoscopy using the Laparolift device (Origin Medsystems), appropriate animal studies were carried out using a porcine model. After preliminary success in the laboratory, a petition was made to the institutional review boards of our hospitals. A laparoscopic herniorrhaphy was performed successfully in a consenting male patient with a right indirect inguinal hernia. To further delineate the role of mechanical planar lifting in surgical procedures, further investigation appears safe and is warranted.