Guarnieri Technique for Indirect Inguinal Hernia Repair

Abstract

This paper presents a personal experience with a technique for indirect inguinal hernia repair, first described by Antonio Guarnieri et al. from Rome, Italy in 1992. Thirty patients with indirect inguinal hernia were operated upon, using this technique, from June 1995 to October 1996. The main characteristics of this technique are the creation of a deep neo-inguinal ring in a more medial site, shortening of the inguinal canal by transposition of the superficial ring to the point where the inferior border of the internal oblique muscle is well represented, reinforcement of the inguinal canal by overlapping the external oblique aponeurosis in a double-breast fashion, and maintenance of the cremasteric muscle. Follow up was carried out at 1,6,12 and 24 months in all the patients. There were no recurrences, no mortality and no testicular atrophy. Two patients (6.6%) had subcutaneous seroma. One patient (3.3%) had hematoma, 5 patients (16.5%) had temporary testicular oedema. The wound infection rate was (3.3%).