A Cheap and Effective Handmade Balloon Trocar for Laparoscopic Total Extraperitoneal Hernia Repair

INTRODUCTION: In the laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) technique for the treatment of inguinal hernia, balloon dissector equipment is widely used all over the world to open the preperitoneal area and create sufficient working area. Since this equipment is expensive, it requires a less costly device. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency and reliability of the low-cost handmade balloon trocar (HMBT) device.
METHODS: Fifty-two patients (47 male and 5 female) who underwent TEP with HMBT between May 2018 and September 2019 were analyzed retrospectively for patient demographics, duration of operation, open techniques or transabdominal preperitoneal necessity, drain use, complications, and hospital stay periods.
RESULTS: The mean age was 32.45±12.63 years; the mean body mass index was 26.01±3.01 kg/m2. ASA scores were 1, 2, and 3. The mean operation time was 41.21±7.51 min. There were no intraoperative complications in any patients. Six patients required a drain; Five patients were discharged after drain removal. One patient needed re-hospitalization due to scrotal hematoma. Fifty-one patients were discharged on the 1st post-operative day. The mean hospital stay period was 26.13±6.56 h.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: HMBT may be a safe, cheap, and feasible alternative method of achieving the preperitoneal space in TEP.