ObjectiveTo investigate the surgical skills and clinical effects of the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) inguinal hernia repair in treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia with plug prefix mesh. MethodsThe clinical data such as operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications of 87 patients with recurrent inguinal hernia reoperated in laparoscopic TAPP after inguinal hernioplasty with plug prefix mesh (recurrent hernia group), in the Department of Gastroenterology and Hernia surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 2011 to December 2013, were retrospectively analyzed, which were compared with the 834 incipient inguinal hernia patients operated first by TAPP (incipient hernia group) at the same time. ResultsThe operations were completed successfully in all of the 921 patients without conversion to open surgery. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in the recurrent hernia group were significantly more than those in the incipient hernia group (P=0.000, P=0.000), the postoperative hospital stay had no signifcant difference between two groups (P=0.057). No recurrences were observed in the recurrent hernia group and incipient hernia group for following-up of (31±4) months and (28±6) months, respectively. Compared with the incipient hernia group, the rates of postoperative pain on day 30 and seroma on day 1 and 3 were higher in the recurrent hernia group (P=0.001, P=0.040, P=0.003, respectively). There were no severe complications such as collateral damage, foreign body sensation, incision infection, intestinal obstruction and so on in the two groups. ConclusionsThe laparoscopic TAPP inguinal hernia repair is safe and effective for patients with recurrent inguinal hernia with plug prefix mesh. More skills are required to reduce the complications. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in reoperated patients with recurrent inguinal hernia are more than those in patients with incipient inguinal hernia. The rates of seroma on day 1 and 3 are also higher.