Totally extraperitoneal versus transabdominal preperitoneal approach: A comparative study between the two laparoscopic procedures

Abstract

Background: Groin hernia surgery is one of the most common procedures performed by surgeons worldwide. With the advent of minimal access surgery, the procedure for repair is now done either by transabdominal preperitoneal approach Transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) or totally extraperitoneal (TEP) approach. The advantage of one procedure over the other is still controversial. Objectives: This prospective study was conducted to find out the intraoperative and postoperative outcomes of TEP and TAPP for inguinal hernia repair in terms of operative time, intraoperative complications, conversion to open, visual analog scale (VAS) score, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and recurrence of hernia and chronic pain. Materials and Methods: A total of 88 patients of inguinal hernia enrolled prospectively between November 2017 and November 2019 and patients aged 18 years and above admitted in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital were included in this study. Forty-four patients were included in TEP group, while 44 patients were allocated to TAPP group. Results: The statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test and unpaired t-test, respectively. The mean operative time in TEP was 91.14 ± 11.14 min and in TAPP repair was 103.16 ± 6.79 min, which was found to be significantly significant. The mean pain score on VAS score on postoperative day 1 was 5.70 ± 0.95 in laparoscopic TEP group and 5.86 ± 0.97 in laparoscopic TAPP group. The mean pain score on VAS score on postoperative day 2 was 3 ± 1.27 in laparoscopic TEP group and 2.95 ± 1.29 in laparoscopic TAPP group. Similarly, the mean pain score on VAS scale on postoperative day 7 was 0.863 ± 1.26 in laparoscopic TEP group and 0.659 ± 1.21 in laparoscopic TAPP group. No significant difference was observed in VAS between TEP and TAPP groups during follow-up. Both TEP and TAPP mesh techniques were comparable in terms of the intraoperative complications and postoperative complications (seroma [during hospital stay, after 1 week of discharge, after 1 month of follow-up]; hematoma [during hospital stay, after 1 week of discharge]; wound infection) and in conversion to open and length of hospital stay. The difference in mean cost of surgery was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Although the mean operative time and cost of surgery were significantly more in TAPP than in TEP group, no significant difference could be found between the intraoperative and postoperative complication rates, conversion to open, and length of hospital stay. Recurrence was observed in one case of TEP groups during follow-up. Our study supports the view that both laparoscopic TEP and TAPP mesh repairs of inguinal hernia are safe and efficacious.