Surgical treatment of inguinal hernias in a general hospital in Lima, Peru

Abstract

Hernias of the inguinal region are among the most common abdominal wall defects and can be managed via open or laparoscopic approaches. Objective: To describe the clinical and surgical characteristics of inguinal region hernias in patients treated at a general hospital in Lima, Peru. Methods: A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted, including patients with inguinal region hernias who underwent surgical repair between January 2022 and December 2023. Results: Of 669 patients who underwent surgery for abdominal wall defects, 389 (58.1%) presented with inguinal region hernias. Inguinal hernias accounted for 92.3% of cases; 95.1% were primary hernias, with a predominance of size 2 defects (L2, M2, and F2). Males comprised 69.4% of the cohort, 51.9% were over 60 years of age, and 77.9% underwent elective procedures. The Lichtenstein repair was the most common technique, followed by TAPP and TEP. In emergency cases, laparotomy with preperitoneal mesh repair predominated. Polypropylene mesh fixation was performed in all Lichtenstein procedures, 80.8% of TAPP procedures, and 22.2% of TEP procedures. Conclusions: Inguinal, primary, indirect, and size 2 hernias predominated, primarily affecting males and patients over 60 years of age. The majority of cases were elective. The Lichtenstein technique was the most widely used procedure, demonstrating a preference for open repair, though laparoscopic techniques were also utilized. Polypropylene mesh fixation was widely performed. Furthermore, the European Hernia Society (EHS) classification system provided effective characterization of the defects.