My father is scheduled to have an incisional hernia and an inguinal
hernia
repaired laparoscopically.  The incisional hernia is being repaired
for the second itme. The inguinal hernia is being repaired for the
fifth time!

I found the surgeon because he published on hernia repair.  He told my
father that the with laparoscopy, the repairs won't open again.  Yet I
just
found a meta analysis on the net that shows no difference between
laparascopy
and conventional methods for hernia incisional recurrence.

(S. S. Forbes, C. Eskicioglu, R. S. McLeod and A. Okrained
"Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing Open
and Laparoscopic Ventral and Incisional Hernia Repair With Mesh
British Journal of Surgery 2009 96 851 to 858.)

(Laparoscopy has other advantages such as dramtically reducing
the risk of hemorrhage and infection.  There was a tripling of the
risk
of bowel injury from two out of two Hundred and Fifty to six out of
Two hundred and fifty with laparoscopic repair.)

Any thoughts on this.

Dr. Laurence Leff  Western Illinois University, Macomb IL 61455 ||
(309) 298-1315
Stipes 447 Assoc. Prof. of Computer Sci. Pager: 309-367-0787 FAX:
309-298-2302

        I hope we haven't lost Dr. McCollister permanently from this group, as
this is right up his alley.
        I had an open inguinal repair last year;  I think the surgeon
discouraged me from laparoscope because he just didn't feel comfortable.
  He actually told me that there are more relapses with laparoscopic
surgery.  I'm not sure if it was Dr. McC. who told me or my own
research--that the issue isn't whether the procedure is done open or
scope--what matters is if a mesh is used.
        I probably should have found another surgeon.  However, the open
repair was not exactly a big deal.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001