Table 1. Patients’ characteristics Table 4. Results of the operation 　M:F 　Age (yr) 　Total Primary 127:6 56.4 ± 16.7 133 (87.5) Recurrent 18:1 55.6 ± 16.4 19 (12.5) P-value 0.575 0.851 Values are presented as mean ± SD or number (%). Table 2. Duration of recurrence Duration (yr) ＜1 1-2 2-5 5-10 ≥10 Total Cases (%) 2 (10.5) 2 (10.5) 3 (15.8) 3 (15.8) 9 (47.8) 19 (100.0) Table 3. Characteristics of recurrent inguinal hernia Characteristics Previous operation Anterior approach 　TEP approach 　Total Types of hernia Right 　Indirect 7 (36.8) 　Direct 7 (36.8) 　Total 14 (73.7) Values are presented as no. of patients (%). TEP, total extraperitoneal. Left 2 (10.5) 3 (15.8) 5 (26.3) Value 18 (94.7) 1 ( 5.3) 19 (100.0) P = 0.141 9 (47.4) 10 (52.6) 19 (100.0) Laparoscopic TEP hernia repair for recurrent inguinal hernia Primary hernia 99.2 ± 29.1 0.5 ± 0.6 1.4 ± 1.1 Recurrent hernia 100.1 ± 23.8 0.3 ± 0.5 1.7 ± 1.0 P-value 0.324 0.215 0.886 Operation time (min) Analgesic (time) Hospital stay (day) Values are presented as mean ± SD. Table 5. Operative complications Peritoneal tears Groin swelling/seroma Urinary retention Wound infection Recurrence Chronic pain Total Values are presented as no. of patients (%). Primary 4 (3.0) 6 (4.5) 30 (22.5) 0 0 0 40 (30.0) Recurrent P-value 0 0 4 (21.1) 0 0 0 4 (21.1) 0.839 no significant difference in recurrence direction according to the hernia type (P = 0.141) (Table 3). Surgery outcomes The operation time, number of analgesics used until dis- charge, and duration of hospital stay after surgery were 99.2 minutes, 0.5 times, and 1.4 days, respectively, in the group P, and 100.1 minutes (110 minutes for recurrence af- ter TEP), 0.3 times, and 1.7 days in the group R, showing no significant difference between the two groups (Table 4). more than 10 years (Table 2). The previous surgery meth- The complications after surgery included four cases of ods that were used in the recurrent patients were the ante- peritoneal rupture and six cases of groin swelling/seroma rior approach technique (18 cases) and the laparoscopic in the group P. Meanwhile, four cases of urinary retention TEP approach (one case). In all the 18 cases where the ante- (22.5%) were found in the group R, but no significant dif- rior approach technique was used, the technique was con- ference was found between the two groups (P = 0.839) ducted in other hospitals, and in the case where the laparo- (Table 5). All the complications occurred individually in scopic TEP approach was used, the approach was con- the patients, except for one patient in the group P, who ducted in these authors’ hospital for the treatment of bi- showed both groin swelling and urinary retention. No lateral inguinal hernia. In the latter case, right recurrence wound infection, chronic pain, or recurrence was found in was shown 20 months after the surgery. For the type of re- both groups. The mean follow-up period after surgery was current, there were nine cases of indirect hernia (seven cas- 18.0 ± 11.3 months in the group P and 15.8 ± 11.9 months in es right, two cases left) and 10 cases of direct hernia (seven the group R. cases right, three cases left). The results showed 14 right hernia (73.7%) and five left hernia (23.6%) cases, showing thesurgery.or.kr 315