LAPAROSCOPIC VERSUS OPEN REPAIR OF INDIRECT INGUINAL HERNIA IN CHILDRENS: EXPERIENCE IN HONDURAS

 

Luis Enrique Sánchez-Sierra ^1,2 , Humberto Cabrera^³,⁴, Enrique Tomé³, Tebni Ochoa ^2,3 Arlin Ordóñez³, Christian Carbajal³, Rolando Aguilera Lagos², Cinthya Karina Mejía-Escobar^⁵,⁶

¹Pediatric Surgery Resident, ²Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), ³Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Escuela, ⁴Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, UNITEC,⁵Research and Academic Management Unit, Hospital Escuela, ⁶Instituto Antonio Vidal.

 

INTRODUCTION

Indirect inguinal hernia (IIH) occurs in 1–5% of term newborns; up to 30% in premature male infants. Open repair (OR) remains the worldwide gold standard. Laparoscopic repair (LR) offers: enhanced visualization, contralateral hernia diagnosis, minimal dissection, and improved cosmetic outcomes. Evidence from low- and middle-income Countries.

OBJECTIVE

To compare percutaneous needle-assisted extraperitoneal LR versus OR of indirect inguinal hernia at Hospital Escuela, Honduras.

METHODS

Design: Prospective comparative quasi-experimental study. Setting: Hospital Escuela, Honduras. Period: March 2022 – January 2025. Sample: n = 212 patients (106 OR / 106 LR). Allocation: Sequential alternating assignment. Follow-up: 1, 3 and 6 months. Statistics: Mann-Whitney U, χ²/Fisher, adjusted multivariate regression (p < 0.05)

 

RESULTS

 

 

 

CONCLUSIONS

 

1. No significant differences in recurrence at 6 months were observed between laparoscopic and open repair.

 

1. LR demonstrated an advantage in diagnosing asymptomatic contralateral IIH, allowing repair in the same surgical procedure.

 

1. LR reduced operative time without increasing complications.