BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is a safe and effective treatment for inguinal hernias, and is considered by some to be the procedure of choice for recurrent inguinal hernias. Little is known, however, about the frequency with which laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is performed and the determinants of its utilization.
METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients undergoing outpatient inguinal hernia repairs in Florida in 2002 and 2003, using the AHRQ State Ambulatory Surgery Database. We compared patient demographics, indication for procedure, location of procedure (hospital or ambulatory surgery center), and charges for laparoscopic and open repairs.
RESULTS: Of 58,172 outpatient inguinal hernia repairs, 11,351 (19.5%) were performed laparoscopically. In the subset of 6,221 recurrent inguinal hernias, only 1,276 (20.5%) were performed laparoscopically. Patients undergoing a laparoscopic repair were younger (52.7 vs. 57.4 years, p
Session: Podium Presentation
Program Number: S047