Objective: To compare the outcomes in term of operative time, hospital stay, wound infection, wound dehiscence and recurrence of open versus laparoscopic procedure in patients undergoing paraumbilical hernia repair.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial

Place and Duration of Study: Bacha Khan Medical Complex Swabi February 2019 to February 2020

Methodology: One hundred and eighty patients of both genders with ages 20 to 60 years undergoing paraumbilical hernia repair were included. All the patients were categorized into two equal groups. Each group contains 90 patients. Group I received open method while group II received laparoscopic method. Postoperative hospital stay, operative time, wound infection, wound dehiscence and recurrence were compared between both methods.

Results: One hundred and twenty four (68.89%) patients were female while 56 (31.11%) were male with mean age 40.46±10.72 years. Mean BMI was 25.26±2.48 kg/m2. In open method operative time was shorter than laparoscopic method 31.16±4.84 minutes ±s 40.56±8.74 minutes (p=<0.05). Hospital stay was shorter in laparoscopic method than open method (p-value <0.05). Wound infection, wound dehiscence and recurrence rate was high in open method as compared to laparoscopic method with p-value <0.05.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic repair of paraumbilical hernia is safe and effective with lesser complications as compared to open method.

Keywords: Para-umbilical Hernia, Laparoscopic, Open Procedure, Wound Infection, Wound Dehiscence, Recurrence