Laparoscopic Hernia Repair

• Techniques
      - transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP)
      - totally extraperitoneal (TEP)
  
  
• Advantages
      - less pain and more rapid return to work
      - better for recurrent and bilateral hernias
  
  
• Disadvantages
      - cost
      - learning curve; higher recurrence rate
      - nerve irritation:
          - genitofemoral n. (2%)
          - Ilieoinguinal n. (1.1%)
          - lateral femoral cutaneous n. (1.1%)*
  
  
  *Stark, et al: Surg Endosc 13:878 (1999)