Background: Findings have shown that laparoscopic incisional hernia repair is superior to conventional open techniques. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the results of laparoscopic surgery on incisional hernias in an outpatient surgery unit in a university hospital.
Methods: Data were gathered prospectively for all laparoscopic incisional hernia repairs from January 1997 to December 2006. A total of 127 patients were operated in an outpatient surgery unit. The patients' clinical features, hernia type, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and reasons for hospital admission are studied.
Results: None of the patients required readmission to hospital, 15 had no need for analgesic treatment (11.8%) and the mean requirement was 6 days. The mean time of return to normal activity was less than 10 days and all the patients expressed their satisfaction with the procedure they received. During follow-up we detected 5 recurrences (4.4%). The statistical study showed no significant differences between the hospitalized patients and those treated on an ambulatory basis with regard to morbidity and recurrence rate (P<0.05). We do find a lower intraoperative and early postoperative (<30 d) complication rate in favor of the ambulatory patients (P<0.001).
Conclusions: Laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias can be performed as a highly efficient ambulatory procedure with igual morbidity and recurrences than hospitalized patients.