Laparoscopic repair is a treatment of choice for selected patients with incarcerated obturator hernia.

PURPOSE: The feasibility and potential advantages of laparoscopic diagnosis and repair of incarcerated obturator hernia (OH) is debated. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare short-term complications comparing laparoscopic to open repair of OH.

METHODS: A total of 29 preoperatively diagnosed patients underwent surgery for a preoperatively diagnosed OH between January 2006 and July 2017. The patients were divided into a laparoscopic group (11 patients underwent laparoscopic repair; 8 without and 3 with intestinal resection) and an open group (18 patients who underwent open repair; 9 without and 9 with intestinal resection).The outcomes were compared between groups. A risk factor analysis for postoperative complications was performed.

RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative complications was fewer in the laparoscopic group [9.0% vs. 61.1%; (p < 0.001)]. The bleeding amount [1.2 g vs. 40.4 g; (p = 0.087)] and postoperative length of stay [13.3 days vs. 17.1 days; (p = 0.072)] showed a tendency to be favorable in the laparoscopic group. Occult contralateral OH was detected in three patients (27.7%) in the laparoscopic group and one patient (5.5%) in the open group (p = 0.099). Open surgery and intestinal resection were independent risk factors for a postoperative complication. One patient in the open group developed an incarcerated OH on the contralateral side 1 year after the first surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic repair for incarcerated obturator hernia demonstrated more favorable short-term outcomes compared with open repair in terms of a lower incidence of postoperative complications and it was potentially beneficial for detecting and repairing an occult OH on the contralateral side.