OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of laparoscopic tension-free repair of umbilical hernia using mesh.

METHODSForm August 2006 to April 2009, 26 patients with umbilical hernia were repaired with mesh under laparoscopy. After the tissues surrounding umbilical perforation were separated by using ultrasonic scalpel, the mesh was stapled to the hernia edge with under laparoscopy. The efficacy of this procedures was analyzed in this study.

RESULTSThe tension-free repairing operations were completed successfully in the 26 patients under laparoscopy. The patients felt slight pain and began eating normally on the second day after the operation. The mean operation time was 35 min (30 - 45 min) and the mean blood loss was 8 ml (5 - 15 ml). No operative death and infection occurred postoperatively. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 5 days (3 - 7 days). The patients were followed up for 3 - 25 months (mean 14 months), no recurrence of the hernia occurred in this group.Patients were satisfied with the operation.

CONCLUSIONSTension-free repairing of umbilical hernia with mesh under laparoscopy is a minimally invasive operation with fast recovery, few complications, it's in line with the principle of tension-free repair for hernia.