Inflammatory Responses in Open versus Laparoscopic Herniorrhaphy

The aim of this study is to verify whether differences could be found or not as concerns of the postoperative surgical stress between the conventional open herniorrhaphy and laparoscopic herniorrhaphy. We therefore compared the immunological and inflammatory responses to open and laparoscopic procedures in this study. The sex, age, weight, and height characteristics of group 1 (open surgery group) matched those of group 2 (laparoscopic surgery group), and no statistically significant differences were found between them. Nor were there any statistically significant differences in operating time or the postoperative hospitalization. Blood samples were collected preoperatively [postoperative day (POD) 0], POD 1 and 5, and the following parameters were assessed: total leukocyte (WBC) count, including neutrophil and lymphocyte subpopulations, HLA-DR⁺CD3⁺, IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin, and body temperature. No differences were detected between two groups in leukocyte, neutrophil, or lymphocyte count, HLA-DR⁺CD3⁺, IL-6, albumin, or body temperature on any of the postoperative days. The only statistically significant difference was a higher CRP value in the laparoscopy group than the open group only on POD 1 (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that the laparoscopic approach appears to offer no advantages over the open approach to herniorrhaphy from the standpoint of immunological and inflammatory responses.