Abstract
Background: Missed lipoma of the spermatic cord is a pitfall unique to the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) laparoscopic hernia repair. This problem occurs when a palpable inguinal mass is noted preoperatively, but no identifiable hernia defect is found at time of laparoscopy and the procedure is terminated.
Methods: Our group encountered six patients without intraperitoneal defects that had large cord lipomas on preperitoneal exploration. Two of these patients had undergone previous intraabdominal laparoscopy for a proposed TAPP repair, which was aborted when no defect was seen.
Results: Both patients were referred for continued symptomatic groin masses, which were subsequently treated by lipoma resection in conjunction with inguinal floor repair.
Conclusions: When patients present with a groin mass, exploration of the preperitoneal space and cord structures is indicated during TAPP repair, even in the presence of a normal-appearing abdominal floor. Abandoning a transabdominal approach without exploration of the preperitoneal structures may lead to a failure to identify symptomatic and/or palpable cord lipomas.
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Received: 22 July 1998/Accepted: 22 September 1998
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Gersin, K., Heniford, B., Garcia-Ruiz, A. et al. Missed lipoma of the spermatic cord. Surg Endosc 13, 585–587 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004649901046
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004649901046