Bilateral inguinal transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopic hernioplasty associated to bilateral laparoscopic varicocelectomy in the same intervention: a feasibility study.

Introduction: Inguinal hernia and varicocele are common conditions in male population. Laparoscopy brings the opportunity to treat them simultaneously, through the same incision. However, there are different opinions about the risks for testicular perfusion of multiple procedures in the inguinal region. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of simultaneous laparoscopic procedures by studying clinical and surgical outcomes of patients undergoing bilateral inguinal hernioplasty using the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) technique with and without concomitant bilateral laparoscopic varicocelectomy (VLB).
Methods: a sample of 20 patients from the University Hospital of USP-SP with indirect inguinal hernia and varicocele with indication for surgical correction was selected. Patients were randomized into two groups, 10 undergoing TAPP (Group I) and 10 undergoing simultaneous TAPP and VLB (Group II). Data regarding total operative time, complications and postoperative pain was gathered and analyzed.
Results: there was no statistical difference between groups regarding total operative time and postoperative pain. Only one complication (spermatic cord hematoma) was observed in Group I and no complications were observed in Group II.
Conclusions: simultaneous TAPP and VLB in was shown to be effective and safe, which provides a basis for conducting studies on larger scales.