There are various surgical options for the treatment of inguinal hernia in China, but the overall choice is between two main categories, open and minimally invasive-lumpectomy. Each of these two procedures has its own advantages and disadvantages, and their application should be individualized to achieve the best results for the patient. Open tension-free hernia repair The open tension-free hernia repair was introduced to China from abroad in 1997 and then rapidly spread throughout the country. One of the major advantages of this tension-free hernia repair is the low recurrence rate, which is already below 2% in China. In addition to this, this method is less painful and the surgery can be done under local anesthesia. It usually requires only 2-5 days of hospitalization, and the procedure can even be completed on an outpatient basis, and the patient can go home immediately. And the patient can return to normal life soon after the surgery. About 10,000 cases of tension-free hernia repair are performed in China every year, and the results are proven to be excellent. The open tension-free hernia repair methods commonly used in China are summarized as follows: 1. Flat patch tension-free repair method (Lichtenstein surgery): Lichtenstein surgery involves suturing the patch to the wall of the inguinal canal and the spermatic cord is led out through the perforated patch. Before 1997, it was recognized worldwide as the most classic procedure for hernia surgery. At present, there are still a few hospitals in China that still perform this operation. 2.Gilbert, mesh plug & patch: This procedure is a combination of mesh plug (1994) and Lichtenstein’s operation, that is, the hernia ring defect is filled with polypropylene rolled into an umbrella shape, then the posterior wall of the inguinal canal is strengthened with a flat patch, and at one time the umbrella filling and the flat patch are not fixed. Later on, Rutkow and Robbines suggested to fix the umbrella filling and the flat sheet separately, and the finalized product was produced by Bard Company in the United States, which is a popular hernia repair procedure abroad and the most rapidly developing procedure in recent years. 3.Prolene 3 in 1 —- tension-free hernia repair method (prolene hernia system, PHS) This procedure applies the stereotyped product (PHS) produced by Johnson & Johnson in the United States, which consists of three parts: an underlying piece placed in front of the peritoneum to repair the pubococcygeal muscle hole; a plug-like intermediate to repair the hernia ring; and a surface piece to repair the posterior wall of the inguinal canal. This is a method introduced in recent years, and there are many hospitals in China performing this kind of surgery. 4, anterior peritoneal gap lining piece tension-free hernia repair method (Kugel): This is a new tension-free hernia repair method proposed in 2000, applying the memory memory elastic ring patch (Kugel patch) produced by Bard Company in the United States to repair the pubococcygeal muscle hole by placing it in the anterior peritoneal gap. With the rapid development of synthetic material science, the patch material has reached the ideal requirement, thus realizing the overall repair of three potential defects, namely the internal ring, direct hernia triangle and femoral ring, which is the concept of total inguinal repair. At present, the open procedure for inguinal hernia in our department is a modified anterior peritoneal space patch placement repair under local anesthesia, which is performed under local anesthesia and the patch is placed in the anterior peritoneal space, reflecting the concept of total inguinal repair with satisfactory results. Rational choice of procedure Both open and lumpectomy are currently internationally recognized treatment options. The open procedure is simple and quick, and local anesthesia expands the surgical indications, making it a more affordable option. The lumpectomy is a minimally invasive procedure with no large incisions and little trauma. General anesthesia allows patients to have no intraoperative discomfort, less postoperative pain and shorter return to work, but it is more costly. Whether a patient with inguinal hernia is suitable for laparoscopic or open surgery, the surgeon should fully inform the patient of the respective risks and advantages of open and lumpectomy surgery and should be part of the surgical consent form, and the patient should make the choice based on his or her own situation and professional advice.