To compare the clinical effect of transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and Kugel herniorrhaphy in treating adult inguinal hernia.

The data of adult inguinal hernia patients admitted to Taizhou Municipal Hospital from January 2014 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and ninety-four cases of primary unilateral inguinal hernia were treated with TAPP operation (96 cases) or Kugel operation (98 cases). The differences in clinical efficacy, postoperative complications and cost were compared between the two groups.

TAPP operation was superior to Kugel operation in operative time, mean activity time and mean hospitalization time (t=2.315, 2.195, 2.521, P=0.022, 0.029, 0.013). TAPP group had a higher total hospital costs than Kugel group, and the consequence showed statistically significance between the two groups (t=8.210, P=0.000). There were no significant differences in the complications such as incision infection, foreign body sensation, chronic pain and seroma. But seroma in Type Ⅲof TAPP group was higher than in Kugel group ( χ²=4.254, P=0.039). Two postoperative recurrent cases of TypeⅢ occured in TAPP group, but there was no significant difference.

Both TAPP and Kugel herniorrhaphies are recommended approaches to repair the myopectineal orifice with their safety, effectiveness and convenience. The individual choice depends on the type of hemia and economic factor of patients.