Laparoscopic versus open inguinal hernia repair: Expeditionary Medical Facility Kuwait experience.

BACKGROUND Inguinal hernia is a common surgical problem in the active duty population. The decision to perform a hernia repair in the traditional open manner versus a laparoscopic approach is somewhat controversial. Furthermore, the type of repair performed has not been analyzed in a systematic manner within an operational setting. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all inguinal hernia repairs performed at Expeditionary Medical Facility Kuwait (EMFK) over an 18-month period, from April 2007 through October 2008. Operative times and time to return to duty were compared between active duty personnel undergoing open mesh repair and laparoscopic extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair. RESULTS One hundred seventy-six consecutive patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair by six different surgeons were analyzed. One hundred and four patients had an open repair and 72 patients underwent laparoscopic repair. The mean operative time was significantly longer in the laparoscopic group (20.2 minutes, p < 0.001). The mean time to return to duty was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group (2.3 days, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is associated with longer operative times but shorter recovery periods. The laparoscopic approach may be a viable option for patients in the expeditionary setting.