Management of Recurrent Inguinal Hernia

Inguinal hernia surgery is one of the most common general surgery procedures, with recurrence rates as high as 17% in mesh-based repairs. Recurrent inguinal hernias are a problem that every general surgeon will encounter. The management of recurrent inguinal hernias is complex. Thoughtful preoperative evaluation and operative planning are crucial for recurrence risk optimization. Patient expectation management is also key to maximize patient satisfaction and quality of life. Operative planning and approach should incorporate patient history and surgeon experience with plans for alternative intraoperative approaches if the initial selected approach cannot be safely completed. Finally, extremely complex recurrent inguinal hernias should be considered for referral to a high-volume hernia center.