Abstract

Laparoscopic repair of ventral and incisional hernias is still a controversial therapeutic option. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the results of laparoscopic surgery on ventral hernias in an outpatient surgery unit of a university hospital. Fifty-five patients consecutively underwent laparoscopic surgery for ventral/incisional hernias in the outpatient unit. The patients' clinical features, hernia type, intraoperative, and postoperative complications and reasons for hospital admission are studied. Forty-two patients (76%) were discharged on the day of the surgery. Thirteen (24%) required hospital admission; 9 admissions were predictable (5 for intraoperative occurrences and 4 for associated surgery) and 4 were unpredictable (all for uncontrolled pain; 31%). We found no case of hospital admission for vomiting, urinary retention, or dizziness. Statistical analysis of the patients requiring admission showed no significant correlation with their clinical features or with the site, size, or recurrence of the abdominal wall defect (P > 0.05). Laparoscopic repair of ventral and incisional hernias can be done as a highly efficient ambulatory procedure, and morbidity and hospital admission with this technique do not depend on the type of hernia.