Herniography following indirect hernioplasty using the Marlex "mesh plug" technique.

In recent years, some surgeons have been performing indirect inguinal herniorrhaphies using a mesh plug technique without ligation or resection of the hernia sac. The authors have had an interest in herniography and questioned whether herniorrhaphy without ligation or resection of the indirect sac might result in a false positive herniogram or an abnormal filling defect within the peritoneal cavity. These questions were answered by the performance of herniography in five patients who had indirect hernias repaired by this method. No false positive herniograms were discovered, and the inverted sacs could not be identified within the peritoneal cavity. Therefore, herniography would still be a useful diagnostic tool in evaluating patients who have persistent or recurrent symptoms following operations wherein the hernia sac was left intact.