Patient Satisfaction, Hernia Recurrence Rate, and Chronic Pain 10 Years After Endoscopic Total Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair

INTRODUCTION: Long-term outcome data after total endoscopic preperitoneal hernia repair are scarce. This study reports the 10-year results after endoscopic total extraperitoneal hernia repair in terms of recurrence rates and various patient-orientated indicators of quality of life. METHODS: Between July 1995 and April 2000, 107 consecutive patients underwent endoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair. The follow-up assessment between December 2007 and June 2008 included a clinical examination and a patient questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients (64.3%) with 108 hernias attended follow-up, an average of 115.7 months (range 91 to 148 mo) after the index operation. The incidence of recurrence was 2.8%, of chronic pain 15.9%, and of foreign body sensation 33.3%. Patient satisfaction measured on the Visual Analogue Scale was high with a median of 9.6 (range 0.3 to 10). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic total extraperitoneal hernia repair is a safe and effective procedure with excellent long-term results and an extremely high rate of patient satisfaction.