Introduction

Approximately fifteen percent of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RRP) may develop a symptomatic inguinal hernia (IH) within the first post-operative year. Some patients have subclinical hernias that predate their surgery, of whom only a portion develops a de-novo IH as a post-operative complication. Both the actual post-operative incidence and the management of IH in RRP are controversial with some authors recommending routine repair of all IH during RRP. Walsh and others routinely repair IH at open radical retropubic prostatectomy [1–3]. To our knowledge, the current study represents the largest combined robotic prostatectomy and inguinal herniorrhaphy series reported.

Materials and methods

After written approval from our Institutional Review Boards, we prospectively collected data from 837 consecutive patients undergoing RALP.

Data points including preoperative history, physical characteristics, operative details, and post-operative length of hospital stay, complications, and recurrence rate were analyzed. All patients underwent preoperative and post-operative physical exam by one of the authors to identify IH.

Operative technique

After pre-operative confirmation of a negative urine culture, we make an attempt to examine the inguinal areas after establishing pneumoperitoneum. One surgeon, D.S., prefers to cover the mesh repair with peritoneum. If he finds a hernia defect with peritoneum exiting the abdominal cavity, he modifies the dissection by taking down the bladder with the attached peritoneum from the lower abdominal wall. The dissection involves extending the incision in the medial umbilical ligaments and urachus laterally as opposed to inferiorly.

After completion of transperitoneal RALP and pelvic lymph node dissection, both authors inspected the myopectineal orifice for the presence of a hernia. If IH was detected, it was repaired robotically by a modified Stoppa technique [4]. After dissection of the hernia sac, a flat piece of mesh, mesh plug, or mesh hernia system was secured over the defect with a combination of suture and staples. The mesh was trimmed to cover the myopectineal orifice. Two pieces of mesh were used for repair of bilateral hernias. The mesh was secured to Cooper’s ligament inferiorly and along the superolateral borders of the rectus sheath. Mesh fixation lateral to the spermatic cord structures or posterior to iliopubic tract was avoided to prevent cutaneous nerve entrapment. Repairs done by T.A. were initially with Marlex mesh or plugs and are now exclusively with Proceed mesh. D.S. initially used Ultrapro mesh and now favors the 3-Dmax system and Proceed mesh, depending on the availability of peritoneum to cover the mesh. The 3-Dmax is form fitted for the hernia repair, but requires coverage with peritoneum. The 3-Dmax involves fixation in only three areas, two on the pubic bone and one on the medial edge of the mesh. If peritoneum is not available to close, usually due to prior hernia surgery or discovery of a hernia after the bladder has been taken down, we use the Proceed. A 5-mm laparoscopic ProTac device (Tyco USS, Norwalk, CT, USA) through the right lower quadrant assistant port was used to secure the flat mesh along the pubic bone earlier in the series of T.A. but was later abandoned in favor of suture alone; it is currently is still in use by D.S. No drains were used by T.A.; only two drains were left in the series by D.S. Reperitonealization was accomplished by individual preference: one author (T.A.) initially performed reperitonealization on several cases but later abandoned this practice after one anastomotic leak. A second author (D.S.) approximates the lateral peritoneal edges with suture or the Protac device. To avoid tension on the vesicourethral anastomosis, the midline peritoneum is not reapproximated. The peritoneum on the bladder side is approximated to the posterior rectus fascia inferior to the cut edge of the peritoneum. If the peritoneum is closed, it is important to close the peritoneum entirely to avoid internal hernias.

Results

Between June 2002 and May 2007, 837 consecutive patients underwent RALP at two hospitals by two surgeons, T.A. and D.S. Of these 837 patients, 80 underwent combined RALP and concurrent IH repair (9.6%). The average age of the RAIH group was 62.2 years (range 43–80 years). Their average BMI was 26.6 (range 20.6–37.3). A total of one-hundred and six hernias were repaired (Table 1). Fifty-six IH were unilateral and 24 were bilateral. Twenty-four IH were left sided, 32 right sided, and 24 bilateral (Table 2). Fifteen patients with unilateral hernias had a previous ipsilateral (n = 7), contralateral (n = 4), or bilateral (n = 4) herniorrhaphy; four patients with bilateral hernias had a previous bilateral (n = 3) or unilateral (n = 1) repair (Table 1). Seventy-nine hernias were direct, nineteen indirect, four pantaloon, and one femoral (Table 2). Three umbilical hernias were also detected and repaired with mesh. A swatch of flat Marlex mesh (n = 22; C.R. Bard, Cranston, NJ, USA), a polypropylene cone mesh plug (n = 19; C.R. Bard), an Ultrapro hernia system, (n = 7; Johnson & Johnson, Piscataway, NJ, USA), a Proceed coated mesh (n = 19; Ethicon, Piscataway, NJ, USA), a 3D-Max (n = 37; C.R. Bard), or a combination of both umbrella and flat mesh (n = 3) was secured with interrupted 3–0 Dexon or 3–0 Tevdek suture (Table 2). Two patients had small defects which were repaired with suture alone.

Table 1 Hernia cohort characteristics
Full size table
Table 2 Hernia characteristics
Full size table

Inguinal herniorrhaphy added an average of 15 min of operative time to the RALP. No deaths occurred. There was one recurrent IH at an average follow-up period of 12.5 months (range: 0.2–52 months). Another complication attributable to IH repair was one urine leak (1.3%) which was thought to occur due to anastomotic stretch after reperitonealization (Table 2). There was no wound or mesh infection, and no significant thigh, groin, or scrotal pain/parasthesia, or orchalgia was noted.

Discussion

In the first century AD, Celsus was possibly the first physician author to describe the surgical treatment of IH [5]. It was not until 1949 that McDonald described IH concurrent with RRP [6]. In the 1960s, Nhyus significantly advanced herniology [7]. It was not until 1987 that Schlegel and Walsh reported the first large series of IH repair at the time of RRP using Nyhus’s preperitoneal nonmesh technique [8]. We employed a variation of the preperitoneal mesh repair described by Stoppa.

Risk factors for IH are smoking, a high activity index, prior hernia, post-prostatectomy stricture, and lower abdominal incision [9–11]. A possible mechanism for the increased incidence of IH may result from disruption of the tensile strength of the transversalis fascia or alteration of the physiologic action of the so called “shutter mechanism” of the myopectineal orifice [7].

The incidence of IH found during laparoscopy is common. Watson et al. found a 13% incidence of asymptomatic IH in 100 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures [12]. In a review of prostatectomy patients, Fukuta found a 20.4% incidence of radiographic IH on pre-operative CT scans [13]. Despite these findings, the significance of incidental IH is unclear. Whether or not incidental subclinical IH progresses to overt IH and over what time scale is unknown. Retrospective studies only identify clinically apparent hernias. In one of the few prospective studies in the literature, Nielsen and Walsh examined the myopectineal orifice of every patient undergoing RRP for evidence of a dilated internal inguinal ring or the presence of a direct or indirect hernia [1]. They found 142 of 430 patients (33%) had overt hernias or anatomic defects predisposing them to IH. To date there has been no adequate prospective controlled study to define the natural history of asymptomatic IH.

Despite the foregoing problem most surgeons repair incidental IH concurrent with RP. Some surgeons delay a combined repair arguing that the risk of mesh infection is higher in the presence of a vesicourethral anastomosis. Our series using RALP and IH do not support this latter notion. In our current series we have not had any mesh infections. Others have found a similar low rate with laparoscopic IH [14–17].

In addition to infection, a reactive foreign body adhesion is a consideration with the use of mesh. We did not have any adhesions or small bowel obstructions in our series. One explanation for the formation of adhesion is direct contact of bowel with the mesh. Minimization of risk can be achieved by reperitonealization in which the mesh is excluded from contact with the bowel or by the use of a coated mesh (e.g. Proceed). Reperitonealization can be safely achieved without stretch on the vesicourethral anastomosis; the peritoneal edges are fixed laterally near the epigastrics while the midline is not closed, to avoid any anastomotic tension. Proceed is a multi-layered mesh which comprises monofilament polypropylene coated with polydiaxanone (PDS). A layer of oxidized regenerated cellulose fabric lines the visceral surface to minimize tissue adherence [18].

Robotic assistance offers several advantages over open IH repair. Because RALP employs 10 ×  3D magnification, the surgeon is able to inspect the internal inguinal anatomy in greater detail. In addition, the increased dexterity of the robotic instruments allow for more precise dissection of the hernia and straightforward suturing of the mesh. RAIH adds no more than 15 min to RALP.

Conclusion

Urological surgeons should be encouraged to perform a thorough inguinal exam during preoperative evaluation and intraoperatively to detect subclinical hernias. Inguinal herniorrhaphy done concurrently at the time of RALP is safe, with no added morbidity and should be routinely performed.