In recent years, much like in all other areas of surgery, laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia has emerged as an option. Lap repairs are also tension-free, although the mesh is placed within the preperitoneal space behind the defect as opposed to in or over it. As the evidence exists today, it has no proven superiority to the open method other than a slightly lower post-operative pain score. Unlike the open method, laparoscopic surgery requires general anesthesia. It is usually more expensive and consumes more OR time than open repair, carries a higher risk of complications, and most of all, has equivalent or higher rates of recurrence compared to the open tension-free repairs.
