Needlescopic primary paediatric inguinal hernia repair by hernia sac disconnection and peritoneal closure

To evaluate the short-term outcome of the needlescopic hernia sac disconnection and peritoneal closure in the treatment of primary paediatric inguinal hernia.The prospective study was conducted from April 2019 to April 2021 at the Paediatric Surgery Unit of the General Surgery Department at Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Egypt, and comprised patients aged 6-144 months having uncomplicated paediatric inguinal hernia. The patients were subjected to needlescopic hernia sac disconnection and peritoneal closure. The follow-up protocol included outpatient visits at 1 week and at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively to check for recurrence and other complications. Data was analysed using SPSS 24.Of the 50 patients with 65 hernias, 37(74%) were males and 13(26%) were females. The overall mean age was 50.78± 31.74 months (range: 9-120 months) and mean internal ring diameter was 11.90±3.518mm (range: 8-20mm). The mean operative time was 20.66±2.94 minutesfor unilateral cases and 30.60±5.15 minutesfor bilateral cases. There was no conversion to conventional laparoscopy or to open herniotomy. All cases were followed up for a mean of 11.56± 3.99 months. No recurrence was encountered in any case and the scars were invisible in 40(80%) cases 6 months postoperatively.Needlescopic hernia sac disconnection and peritoneal closure wasfound to be feasible,safe and effective in the treatment of primary paediatric inguinal hernia.