Short-term outcomes of pediatric laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in Korea based on Korean Health Insurance Big Data: 2011–2015

For pediatric inguinal hernia repairs (IHRs), open IHR (high ligation) has long been a gold standard. Recently laparoscopic IHR (LIHR) was introduced as a new treatment modality and has been performed more frequently in Korea. Unlike adults, LIHR in children is still controversial. In the present study, we investigate the short-term outcomes of pediatric LIHR in Korea using nationwide inpatient data. We analyzed clinical practice for IHRs from 2011 to 2015 using Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Inpatient Sample. A total of 5281 patients 15 years old or younger underwent 5356 IHRs: 4507 OIHRs and 849 LIHRs. M:F ratio was 2.4:1. The proportion of LIHRs was only 1.8% at the beginning but had been continuously increased up to 29.8% at the end of the study period. LIHRs were closely related to synchronous bilateral inguinal hernia repairs (SBIHRs). Overall, SBIHRs were performed in 10.9% of open and 49.2% of LIHRs. Metachronous contralateral IHRs (MCIHRs) after initial unilateral IHRs were significantly more frequent after OIHRs (1.7%, 69/3, 951) than after LIHRs (0.2%, 1/427). Recurrence rate per side during study period was 0.1% (6/4, 993) after OIHRs and 0.2% (2/1, 259) after LIHRs, respectively (statistically insignificant). Nationwide inpatient data showed that LIHRs in pediatric patients had recently been increasingly performed in Korea. LIHRs facilitated SBIHRs, which, in turn, decreased the needs of MCIHRs. However limited numbers of patients might actually have benefited from them. Early recurrence after primary IHRs in children is quite low regardless of way of approach.