Background The prevalence of obesity is rising globally, and consequently, the incidence of inguinal hernias among this population has increased. Laparoscopic extraperitoneal repairs, which effectively avoid penetrating the abdominal cavity, stand out as particularly impressive advancements in this field. We present this study to determine which laparoscopic approach would be more useful for patients with obesity. Methods This retrospective cohort study examined patients with obesity and unilateral inguinal hernia who underwent either eTEP or TEP repair from December 2022 to April 2024. It compared the two groups with respect to baseline data, operative findings, and postoperative findings. The primary result measures for this investigation were the rate of recurrence and surgical time. Results A total of 64 patients were analyzed. The eTEP technique was performed in 30 patients, and the TEP technique in 34 patients. The average follow-up time for all patients was 19.1 months (±5.3). The eTEP technique resulted in a shorter surgical time (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding recurrence rate, chronic pain, duration of hospitalization, return to activities, pneumoperitoneum, and complications. Conclusion The eTEP technique has demonstrated a reduction in surgical time compared to the TEP technique in laparoscopic hernia repair among patients with obesity when performed by experienced hands. This finding highlights the potential efficiency of the eTEP approach in clinical practice. In terms of additional outcomes, particularly regarding recurrence, the eTEP technique demonstrated comparable results to the TEP technique. Prospective randomized studies are needed to compare these two techniques in patients with obesity.
Abdullah Hilmi Yılmaz (Mon,) studied this question.