Inguinal hernias present a significant healthcare burden globally, necessitating effective surgical management. This comprehensive review evaluates two primary surgical techniques for managing bilateral inguinal hernias: bilateral open inguinal hernia and Rives-Stoppa repair. This review aims to provide insights into optimal surgical approaches through a comparative analysis of these techniques, including examining advantages, disadvantages, outcomes, and factors influencing technique selection. Bilateral open inguinal hernia repair offers simplicity and familiarity, while Rives-Stoppa repair may provide advantages such as reduced recurrence rates and postoperative complications. The findings underscore the importance of considering patient-specific factors, surgeon expertise, and hospital resources when selecting the optimal approach. Further research is warranted to conduct long-term comparative studies and explore innovations in surgical techniques and materials, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and advancing inguinal hernia repair practices.

A direct sliding inguinal hernia descends through the superficial inguinal ring and encroaches on nearby organ structures, such as the bladder. This type of hernia is rare with a 2-5% incidence and occurs due to a weakness within the lower abdominal wall, usually associated with advancing age, that permits the distal colon to descend into the inguinal canal. Direct sliding inguinal hernias are a rare subset of inguinal hernias that require meticulous dissection due to their incorporation of nearby organs such as the bladder or colon. Few cases report repair of these hernias laparoscopically; however, the use of a hybrid laparoscopic/open approach has not been extensively documented and it may be beneficial to explore the use of this approach in inguinal hernia repair.  We present a case of a robotic-assisted minimally invasive repair of a direct sliding inguinal hernia in an 85-year-old male. He initially presented to the emergency department with left-sided groin pain and imaging revealed he had a direct sliding inguinal hernia that incorporated the bladder wall. He was admitted to surgery for a robotic-assisted minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair with mesh. During the surgery, after seeing the extent at which the hernia sac incorporated the bladder wall, the procedure was converted to an open approach to perform the remainder of the reduction; however the robot was reintroduced for mesh placement. Post-operatively, the patient experienced mild incisional abdominal pain with return of bowel function on day four and was discharged that same day.

OBJECTIVE: Numerous modifications laparoscopic techniques have mushroomed in recent years. Here we describe a modified technique of extracorporeal ligation of processus vaginalis in children using a hernia crochet needle with a cannula.
METHODS: Processus vaginalis repair was carried out on patients diagnosed with inguinal hernia or hydroceles using this novel technique between June 2021 and June 2022. The processus vaginalis was closed extracorporeally using a hernia crochet needle with a cannula. In the presence of patent processus vaginalis, the same procedure would be performed on the contralateral side. The primary outcomes was the safety and efficiency of this modified procedure, and the secondary outcomes was the post operative complications.
RESULTS: A total of 212 (165 inguinal hernia and 47 hydroceles) children were corrected by this novel technique. The mean operation time was 27.49 min for unilateral inguinal hernia cases and 36.55 min for bilateral cases. The unilateral hydrocele median operation time was 27.83 min and that for the bilateral cases was 37.30 min. During the mean of 10.92 months of follow-up, there was only a boy subject to a metachronous contralateral occurrence of hernia 10 months after surgery, and no other complications (knot reactions, testicular atrophy, postoperative hydrocele or iatrogenic) have been observed yet.
CONCLUSIONS: This study shown a unique procedure with using a hernia crochet needle with a cannula to be simple, safe, and effective in managing inguinal hernias and hydroceles in the pediatric population.

An inguinal bladder hernia (IBH) is an abnormal protrusion of the bladder into the inguinal canal accompanied by a peritoneum sheath that creates the hernia sac. Clinical presentations vary greatly from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and reduction in scrotal size after voiding to being entirely asymptomatic. Since inguinal bladder hernias are uncommon and often accompanied by varied and nonspecific symptoms, it is challenging to diagnose and rarely included in differentials. Currently, computerized tomography (CT) imaging with contrast or voiding cystourethrography is recommended for diagnosis. There is no consensus on the best treatment for inguinal bladder hernias, with options ranging from laparoscopic repair to catheterization. In this study, we report the case of inguinal bladder hernia in an 86-year-old male presenting with symptoms of recurrent hematuria and two failed voiding trials after a Foley catheter placement from prostatomegaly resulting in bladder diverticula, and IBH. He was treated with prostate artery embolization (PAE) to address LUTS related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The resultant decreased prostatic volume resolved his symptoms of IBH, hematuria, and urinary retention.

Inguinal hernias are common anatomic defects, especially among men. Complications of inguinal hernias include incarceration, but incarcerated hernias rarely cause other disturbances. An 86-year-old man with a history of chronic kidney disease (stage IIIb) presented with recurrent urinary tract infections and acute kidney injury with sepsis. Physical examination revealed a right inguinal hernia, and non-contrast abdominal computed tomography revealed right ureteral obstruction and distal entrapment by the inguinal hernia, with hydronephrosis. The patient underwent right retrograde pyelography and ureteral stent placement, followed by laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy with mesh, which restored renal function. Our case is unique among obstructive uropathies due to inguinal hernias because the distal ureter was entrapped within the bowel mesentery communicating between the peritoneal cavity and retroperitoneum. Both inguinal hernias and obstructive uropathy are common among elderly men. While the latter is often secondary to prostate malfunction, other causes of obstructive uropathy or hydronephrosis should be considered, especially if unilateral.

Scrotal lipoma is a type of rare benign mesenchymal tumor. These lipomas can masquerade as inguinal hernias that can cause surgical dilemmas. The size of lipomas can vary, with some growing into remarkably large masses. We present a case of a 75-year-old male with a history of laparoscopic hernia repair, who noticed a progressively enlarging left scrotal bulge. An open hernia repair procedure was performed, unexpectedly revealing two large left-sided scrotal masses, which were subsequently excised. Based upon the histopathologic findings of these masses, scrotal lipomas with fat necrosis were diagnosed.

Groin hernia management has a significant worldwide diversity with multiple surgical techniques and variable outcomes. The International guidelines for groin hernia management serve to help in groin hernia management, but the acceptance among general surgeons remains unknown. The aim of our study was to gauge the degree of agreement with the guidelines among health care professionals worldwide.
Forty-six key statements and recommendations of the International guidelines for groin hernia management were selected and presented at plenary consensus conferences at four international congresses in Europe, the America\'s and Asia. Participants could cast their votes through live voting. Additionally, a web survey was sent out to all society members allowing online voting after each congress. Consensus was defined as > 70% agreement among all participants.
In total 822 surgeons cast their vote on the key statements and recommendations during the four plenary consensus meetings or via the web survey. Consensus was reached on 34 out of 39 (87%) recommendations, and on six out of seven (86%) statements. No consensus was reached on the use of light versus heavy-weight meshes (69%), superior cost-effectiveness of day-case laparo-endoscopic repair (69%), omitting prophylactic antibiotics in hernia repair, general or local versus regional anesthesia in elderly patients (55%) and re-operation in case of immediate postoperative pain (59%).
Globally, there is 87% consensus regarding the diagnosis and management of groin hernias. This provides a solid basis for standardizing the care path of patients with groin hernias.

\"The majority of hernias can be satisfactorily repaired by using the tissues at hand. The use of mesh prosthesis should be restricted to those few hernias in which tension or lack of good fascial structures prevents a secure primary repair. This group includes large direct inguinal hernias and incisional hernias in which the defect is too large to close primarily without undue tension. Most recurrent hernias, because of this factor are best repaired with mesh prosthesis\". These words, penned in 1960 by Francis Usher have reconfirmed what had been a mantra of the Shouldice Hospital (Usher in 81:847-854, 1960). The Shouldice Hospital has specialized in the treatment of abdominal wall hernias since 1945. It has, since its beginning, insisted on the fact that a thorough knowledge of anatomy coupled with large volumes of surgical cases would lead to unparalleled expertise. It was Cicero who taught us that \"Practice, not intelligence or dexterity, will win the day\"! Since the seminal contribution of Bassini (1844-1924), there have been no less than 80 procedures imitating his inguinal herniorrhaphy and much more since the introduction of mesh and mesh devices (Iason in Hernia. The Blakiston Company, Philadelphia, pp 475-604, 1940). All have failed to some extent and it appears that the common denominator for these failures was the inability to understand the importance of entering the preperitoneal space. Only Shouldice and McVay (Lotheissen, Narath) realized the shortcoming and have continued to thrive as a successful procedure. Entering the preperitoneal space eliminates any temptation to plicate the posterior inguinal wall, a layer normally deficient in direct inguinal hernias, but it also allows the identification of muscle layers rectus, transversus and internal oblique muscles which will go to reconstruct the posterior inguinal wall, without tension as reported by Schumpelick (Junge in 7(1):17-20, 2003).

Background: This meta-analysis aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of Lichtenstein versus laparoscopic hernioplasty for inguinal hernias based on eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Material and methods: We searched several electronic databases to identify eligible studies based on the index words updated to March 2018.We also searched related publication sources and only included eligible RCTs in the current analysis. Relative risk (RR) or mean difference (MD) along with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used for the main outcome of our analysis.Results: In total, 21 studies were included with 3772 patients in the laparoscopic group and 3910 patients in the Lichtenstein group. The results indicated that compared with the Lichtenstein group, the laparoscopic surgery group had significantly increased operative time. Besides, there was no significant difference in the rate of hematoma or seroma and complications between the two groups. However, compared with the Lichtenstein group, the laparoscopic group had a higher hernia recurrence rate, a lower incidence of chronic pain and a lower rate of wound infection, but no significant difference was found.Conclusion: The results demonstrated that laparoscopic repair reduced chronic pain and wound infection compared with Lichtenstein repair. But Lichtenstein could reduce the operative time and hernia recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia and hydrocele repair has become an alternative to the more frequently used inguinal approach. We describe our experience with the laparoscopic technique.
METHODS: Retrospective study of laparoscopic inguinal hernia and hydrocele repair performed during the period between 2003-2016. We included patients < 14 years, with communicating hydrocele and/or indirect inguinal hernia diagnosis (N = 39). We have studied two cohorts; group A patients with indirect inguinal hernia (N = 31) and group B patients with communicating hydrocele (N = 8). We used intraperitoneal laparoscopic approach, performing herniorrhaphy of the internal inguinal orifice without resection of the hernial sac. The main outcome measurements were surgical indication and postoperative complications.
RESULTS: The indication for laparoscopic repair was bilateral defects (46.2%), unilateral defects (28.2%), defects associated with umbilical hernia (23.1%) and associated with another pathology (2.6%). In group A the rate of complications that required new admission was 3.2% and the recurrence rate was 9.7%. In group B, was 12.5% ​​and 12.5% respectively. We have not observed a significant relationship with respect to patient age, laterality or suture used and the rate of complications in any of the groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations of our study given the small sample size and retrospective nature, the complication rate (15%) is higher than that published in the literature. This makes us take a step back to reassess our indications and technique, and not forget that the laparoscopic approach is not a technique without risks and requires a learning curve.
UNASSIGNED: La reparación laparoscópica de la hernia inguinal e hidroceles en la edad pediátrica, se ha convertido en una alternativa a la herniorrafia inguinal clásica. Describimos nuestra experiencia en las intervenciones realizadas con dicha técnica.
UNASSIGNED: Estudio retrospectivo de las reparaciones laparoscópicas de hernia inguinal e hidrocele realizadas en el periodo 2003-2016. Se han incluido pacientes <14 años, diagnosticados de hidrocele comunicante y/o de hernia inguinal indirecta (N=39), divididos en dos cohortes: grupo A pacientes con hernia inguinal indirecta y grupo B pacientes con hidrocele comunicante. Se ha empleado el abordaje laparoscópico intraperitoneal, y anillorrafia del orificio inguinal interno sin resección del saco herniario. Las variables principales estudiadas han sido la indicación quirúrgica y las complicaciones postquirúrgicas.
UNASSIGNED: Las indicaciones quirúrgicas han sido los defectos bilaterales (46,2%), defectos unilaterales (28,2%), defectos asociados a hernia umbilical (23,1%) y asociados a otra patología (2,6%). En el grupo A la tasa de complicaciones que precisaron de ingreso fue de 3,2% y la tasa de recurrencias fue de 9,7%; mientras que en el B han sido del 12,5% y del 12,5% respectivamente. No hay una relación significativa respecto a la edad, la lateralidad o la sutura utilizada y la tasa de complicaciones en ninguno de los grupos.
UNASSIGNED: A pesar de las limitaciones del estudio, el porcentaje total de complicaciones (15,3%) es más elevado que el publicado en la literatura. Esto nos hace reflexionar y no olvidar que el abordaje laparoscópico no es una técnica exenta de riesgos y requiere de una curva de aprendizaje.