Application of medical chemistry adhesive in tension-free herniorrhaphy for inguinal hernia

Abstract

Objective To evaluate medical chemistry adhesive in tension-free herniorrhaphy for inguinal hernia. Methods In this study, 100 patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were assigned to study group ( n = 50) and control group ( n = 50) during Jun. 2009 and Dec. 2009. Medical chemistry adhesive (n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate, NBCA) was used in Lichtenstein tension-free hernia repair in study group and suture procedure was used in control group. Patient demographics, operation time,postoperative length of stay, visual analogue scale ( VAS ) score 24 hours after surgery, incidence of postoperative chronic pain and hematoma, recurrence rate, and other complications were compared between the two groups. Results The duration of follow-up ranged from 12 months to 18 months. There were no recurrences or wound infection in the two groups. In study group, no patient complained of chronic pain postoperatively, whereas in the control group, 6 patients ( 12% ) had a significant chronic pain. In study group, 2 patients (4%) had local hematoma after operation, whereas there were 8 ( 16% ) in the control group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in postoperative length of stay ( P ＞ 0. 05 ), but the operation time and postoperative VAS score in study group ( 38 ± 5 min and 2. 5 ± 0. 6)were lower than in the control group (42 ± 5 min and 2. 8 ± 0. 8 ), ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusions Application of medical chemistry adhesive in tension-free herniorrhaphy for inguinal hernia is associated with less postoperative pain, lower incidence of hematoma, less postoperative chronic pain and shorter operation time. Key words: Hernia, inguinal; Surgical procedures, operative; Tissue adhesives; Herniorrhaphy