PREPERITONEAL GROIN HERNIA REPAIR WITH KUGEL PATCH THROUGH AN ANTERIOR APPROACH.

Kugel hernia repair is classically carried out through the posterior approach; in this study we investigated the effectiveness and invasiveness of a Modified Kugel (Bard-Davol Inc., RI, USA) hernia repair procedure carried out through an anterior approach. A prospective series covering a 2-year period, including 122 patients (142 hernias) were carried out using the anterior approach. Patient comfort, complications and recurrence were evaluated. A total of 142 inguinal hernias were repaired, median age was 67 years, the mean operation time was 51 ± 23 min and the average incision was 4.5 cm. There was one case recurrence 5 months after repair. Other complications were few and not severe, only slight groin discomfort was observed in two patients during follow up. This Modified Kugel hernia through anterior approach is effective, mini-invasive and easy to learn with fewer complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]