An Alternative Technique for Transumbilical Single-Port Laparoscopic Percutaneous Precise Closure of the Inguinal Hernia Sac in Children: A 3-Year Single-Centre Study

Objective To evaluate the safety and reliability of a novel technique of single-port laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous precise closure of the inguinal hernia sac in children.Methods From September 2016 through September 2019, children with inguinal hernia(s) treated with single-port laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous extraperitoneal closure using a guide wire were enrolled in this study. Operative time, surgical complications, recurrence rate, and cosmetic results were collected.Results A total of 917 cases with inguinal hernia(s) were collected. Among them, there were 886 (96.61%) boys and 31 girls. Their mean age was 5.2 ± 3.7 years. There were 693 (75.57%) cases with unilateral hernia. There were 224 cases with bilateral hernias or patent processus vaginalis, including 135 (14.72%) cases with an open contralateral ring which was confirmed intraoperatively. Twenty-three (2.51%) needed another port to complete the hernia sac separation. The operation time was 24.7 ± 5.2 min and 14.6 ± 3.8 min in bilateral and unilateral ones. Three cases complained of numbness in the thigh region or groin pain which subsided without medication in the 2 nd postoperative month. There was no recurrence, and the incision scars were nearly invisible.Conclusion Single-port laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous extraperitoneal closure using a guide wire is a safe, less cost, and reliable technique in the treatment of inguinal hernia in children.