In TEP hernia surgery, there was no benefit of lightweight over heavyweight meshes observed 2 years postoperatively.

The overall recurrence rate 5 years after TEP repair was low. Ultrapro lightweight meshes showed higher recurrence rates than heavyweight meshes and are not recommended for endoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair.

In the present study, we implemented a diagnostic workup for patients with postherniorrhaphy inguinal pain to select those with neuropathic pain. Eighty-three percent of the patients with neuropathic groin pain obtained significant improvement of their pain scores after our protocolled treatment. The effect was achieved by nerve infiltrations and in some cases by an implanted PNS when the former was unsuccessful.

Athletes with inguinal disruption, selected through a multidisciplinary, systematic work-up, benefit from TEP repair.

Moderate-to-severe pain after TEP hernia repair is self-limiting, with less than 1 % of the patients reporting moderate pain 1 year postoperatively.

One-stop hernia surgery is feasible and satisfactory from an institutional as well as from a patient's perspective.

Background Recurrence rates after inguinal hernia repair have been reduced to a few per cent, since mesh repair has become standard of care. Lightweight meshes reduce postoperative pain and stiffness in open anterior repair, but for endoscopic repair, the discussion about this benefit is ongoing. This study was done to analyse the effects of lightweight mesh versus heavyweight mesh following endoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair. Methods In a single-centre double-blindly randomized clinical trial, 950 patients with unilateral primary inguinal hernia were randomized to undergo endoscopic TEP using either an Ultrapro Ò or a Prolene Ò mesh. Data were collected by validated questionnaires at day 1, day 7, after 6 weeks and after 3 months, and clinical assessment was performed after 3 months. The presence of groin pain after 3 months, defined as an NRS score [3, was evaluated as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes were foreign body feeling and the impact of pain and foreign body feeling on daily activities.Results At 3-month follow-up, the incidence of pain (NRS 4-10) was 2 versus 0.9 % in the lightweight and heavyweight mesh group, respectively (p = 0.17). Pain interfered with daily activities in 1.7 % of the lightweight and 1.5 % of heavyweight group. In the lightweight group, 20 % of patients reported a foreign body feeling versus 18 % in the heavyweight group (p = 0.62). No differences between the groups were observed regarding time to return to work, interference with sports and sexual activities, testicular pain and ejaculatory pain. Severe preoperative pain (OR 2.01, 95 % CI 1.21-3.35, p = 0.01) was the only independent predictor of any post-operative pain after 3 months. Conclusion Three months after TEP inguinal repair, there were no significant differences between lightweight and heavyweight mesh use regarding the incidence of pain, foreign body feeling or any other endpoint.

Totally, extraperitoneal endoscopic inguinal hernia repair in elderly patients is associated with low overall complication rates and a fast recovery. In a small proportion of patients, severe complications occur attributable to the endoscopic approach.