Inguinal hernia repair remains one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide. Tension-free repair with mesh augmentation is the predominant treatment option, either achieved by preperitoneal laparoscopic hernioplasty or Lichtenstein procedure (LP). As the recurrence rate is reduced to less than 5 % after mesh repair, nowadays, long-term morbidity associated with open inguinal hernia repair is mainly related to chronic postoperative inguinal pain (CPIP). Despite many hypotheses about the possible causes for CPIP, there is now consensus that involvement of inguinal nerves plays a major role.
The trans rectus sheath extra-peritoneal procedure (TREPP) is a minimally invasive open approach utilizing the rectus sheath to access the preperitoneal space. It has shown promise in providing effective repair with potential advantages in cosmesis, postoperative pain, and recurrence rates. It is a medial approach avoiding the interference with the course of all (three) inguinal nerves through lateral abdominal wall.