Evolving techniques in endoscopic extraperitoneal herniorrhaphy.

Endoscopic extraperitoneal herniorrhaphy (EEPH) was utilized to repair 326 groin hernias in 249 patients over a 32-month period. Nearly one in ten of the repairs was for a recurrent hernia. Several patients had contralateral hernias diagnosed only at the time of endoscopic examination. A recurrence rate of 1.6% and an overall complication rate of 5.2% are cited. After a plateau was reached on the surgeon's learning curve, various modifications in technique were implemented. Through these modifications, EEPH has become a safe, efficient, and standardized operation that can be performed with decreasing costs to the hospital and with increasing advantages to the patient.