Early Belgian Experience with the Kugel Patch Inguinal Hernia Repair

Abstract

The Kugel hernia repair is an open but minimally invasive, tension free repair, offering the advantages of a preperitoneal repair without the need for general anaesthesia. We report our initial experience with this technique in 25 inguinal hernia repairs. Operating time averaged 40 ± 16 min, and one complication, a bladder tear, occurred intra-operatively. Patients were discharged after a median of 2 days and were then seen after 3 weeks and after at least one year. Three weeks postoperatively, there were two superficial skin inflammations and one haematoma. One year postoperatively no recurrences occurred but two patients complained of persistent inguinodynia. The Kugel hernia repair is a relatively new technique with a short operating time and minimal postoperative pain, but a learning curve, comparable to that of TEP has to be overcome in order to reproduce the results of its inventor.

Key Words:

• Inguinal hernia
• tension-free
• mesh

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Y. Van Nieuwenhove

Y. Van Nieuwenhove Dept. of Surgery, Academisch Ziekenhuis-Vrije Universiteit Brussel Laarbeeklaan 101 1090 Brussels, Belgium