Background

Mini-invasive approach in surgery ensures better aesthetic results, faster return to work and a lesser postoperative pain, also in elderly patients [1, 2, 5, 7].

Aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of our technique in the elderly, as far as concerns preoperative and postoperative variables.

Methods

Our work is a retrospective study conducted at University Section of General Surgery in "San Luigi Gonzaga" Hospital, Orbassano (Torino). At first we described our standardized TAPP technique.

We rewieved our experience from July 2007 to December 2012 about TAPP in elderly patients (> 65 yrs - TAPPe Group) and in young patients (< 65 yrs - TAPP Group). In our division of General Surgery the first TAPP was performed on 02/05/2007. In TAPP and TAPPe Groups were excluded patients with: important comorbidities, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), previous retinal detachment, glaucoma. We also excluded patients who refused general anesthesia. We didn't excluded patients with previous abdominal surgery.

All procedures were conducted by three surgeons with more than 15 years laparoscopic experience.

We first used polypropylene high-weight meshes [3] fixed with absorbable clips, then we started to use polypropylene low-weight meshes fixed with fibrin glue [4, 13] and finally we started to use self-locking Polyester meshes [12]: currently 30 TAPP (6 in elderly) were performed using this mesh, in these cases without any fixation device.

Following literature pattern, complications were divided into: recurrence (early and late), early minor complications (minor vascular lesions, seroma, scrotal hematoma), early major complications (major vascular injury, bladder injury, visceral injury, umbilical cord injury), late minor complications (chronic pain) and late major complications (incisional hernia, mesh infection, mesh rejection, intra-abdominal infection, exitus).

We finally asked patients to express an opinion from 0 to 4 as a score for their satisfaction about the TAPP procedure received.

Surgical technique [1]

  • Pneumoperitoneum in left hypochondrium by Veress needle, and access in the umbilical region by Hasson reusable trocar. Intra-abdominal pressure is maintained at 12 mmHg. Placing a disposable 5/12 mm operating trocar in the right side and a reusable 5 mm trocar in the left hip. Peritoneal incision from the anterior superior iliac spine to the median ligament. Medial dissection up to discover Cooper's ligament. Dissection on the upper side of Psoas muscle. Median dissection till complete reduction of the hernia sac and of the pre-lipomatous formation in the abdomen

  • In case of bilateral defects we find it useful to proceed to the contralateral preparation before mesh placement, and we prefer to prepare two separate preperitoneal pockets

  • Mesh preparation and its shaping of approximately 13 × 11 cm in the medial part, 8-9 cm in the lateral part, with median notch for the umbilical cord

  • Mesh introduction and its placement in the preperitoneal pocket

  • Closure of the peritoneal flap by continuous suture with Prolene 2/0 absorbable, secured with clips, after eversion of the sac in the abdomen.

Results

From January 2007 to December 2012 in our University General Surgery division 730 hernioplasty were performed, 492 with open approach and 185 with laparoscopic approach.

Laparoscopic Group was divided into two subgroups according to the age of patients in: TAPP Group with <65 years patient (133 M, 21 F - average age 57 aa - mean BMI 26) and the TAPPe Group with >65 Years patients (29 M, 2 F - average age 69 years - mean BMI 25) (Table 1).

Table 1 Demographic data
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At the time of surgery, in TAPP Group 76 defects were unilateral, 25 bilateral and 53 were recurrent hernias; in TAPPe Group 23 were unilateral hernias, 3 were bilateral and 5 were recurrent hernias (Table 2). Most defects were left hernias, in both samples. At the moment the mean follow-up is 31 months. Mean operative time was 92 minutes in TAPP group and 86 minutes in TAPPe Group (Table 3). Anatomical features were satisfactory in 83% of cases, pain's triangle and disaster's triangle were well identified in all cases.

Table 2 Caracteristics of defects
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Table 3 Intraoperative variables
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There were no major vascular injury, visceral injury or bladder injury in any case.

There were no wound infections or mesh infections in either group.

In TAPP Group 57 cases were treated using polypropylene mesh fixed with absorbable clips, 56 cases using polypropylene mesh fixed with biological glue and 24 cases using a self-locking mesh. In TAPPe Group 3 cases were treated using polypropylene mesh fixed with absorbable clips, 22 cases using polypropylene mesh secured with biological glue and 6 cases using a self-locking mesh. We never used non-absorbable metal tacks (Table 4).

Table 4 Caracteristics of meshes
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Observed complications are as follows (Table 5,6): in TAPP group there were 4 early recurrent hernias and 2 late recurrent hernias, 1 epigastric lesion, 8 seroma and 4 chronic pain. In TAPPe Group we described only one early recurrent hernia and 2 seromas.

Table 5 Late complications/variables
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Table 6 Early complications/variables
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There was no mortality. The mean patients hospital stay was: 1.5 days in TAPP Group and 1.3 days in TAPPe Group. All patients were satisfied about laparoscopic procedure (Table 7).

Table 7 Satisfaction score
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Conclusions

Laparoscopic treatment of inguinal hernias is a difficult procedure that requires an adequate learning curve [1]. In our experience, operative time and hospital stay appear to be acceptable and in accord with the experience of most centres.

Short-and long-term results of the technique in terms of perioperative minor complications, post-operative pain and morbidity are in agreement with literature [7–11].

According to literature, satisfaction of patients who underwent laparoscopic procedure in our TAPP experience was excellent.

In our opinion the best short and long term perioperative results depend on careful and bloodless dissection of the preperitoneal space, meticulous reduction of the hernia sac, appropriate mesh size, its positioning and fixation; also fundamental is to completely close the peritoneal flap, leaving no gaps [1].

We consider surgery approach more difficult in the elderly in some cases [14] but we also considered laparoscopic approach is, in general, a safe and feasible technique in acute pathology [15] and a safe approach also in the elderly [16, 17]. In our experience, laparoscopic repair of wound defects is a good standard technique also in the elderly.

In conclusion, in our experience, despite the retrospective study limitations, TAPP technique for inguinal hernia repair is an effective and safe technique when performed by experienced hands, also in the elderly. Perioperative intervention related morbidity appears to be within normal limits, and the superiority of laparoscopic technique in terms of post-operative discomfort, improved aesthetic results and early return to work is to be confirmed also in this type of intervention and also in the elderly.