Laparoscopic Repair of Internal Hernia after TAPP Inguinal Hernia Repair

Aldo Fafaj, MD; Luciano Tastaldi, MD; Hemasat Alkhatib, MD; Clayton Petro, MD; Ajita S. Prabhu, MD, FACS; David M. Krpata, MD; Michael J. Rosen, MD, FACS; Diya I. Alaedeen, MD, FACS

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-5803
Year Produced: 2019
Length: 7 min.


Minimally invasive repair of inguinal hernia has been associated with less post-operative pain, numbness, hematoma formation and faster return to regular activity. The transabdominal preperitoneal approach requires the creation of a peritoneal flap in order to access the preperitoneal space. It is critically important to securely re-approximate this flap after mesh placement in order to exclude it from the abdominal viscera. Our approach to repair an internal hernia due to peritoneal flap disruption after TAPP inguinal hernia repair is presented in this video. A 69-year-old male with a history of repair of recurrent right inguinal hernia via TAPP approach, presented to clinic six months after the procedure, complaining of a right lower quadrant bulge near the previous port site. The operative approach was planned after reviewing the CT scan which showed an anterolateral abdominal wall hernia containing omentum and small bowel loops. Upon entry into the abdomen the internal hernia was visualized. Loops of the terminal ileum had herniated into the preperitoneal space. The transversus abdominis muscle was found to be down from the abdominal wall and attached to the disrupted peritoneal flap. After adhesiolysis, the previously placed mesh appeared intact, and there was no evidence of hernia recurrence. The peritoneal flap and transversus abdominis muscle were re-approximated with the abdominal wall using nonabsorbable sutures and fibrin glue. Patient recovery was uneventful, and he was discharged on postoperative day one.