Comparative study of patient reported rates of chronic pain with the use of heavy weight and light weight mesh in open hernia repair in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: Hernia repair one of the most common operations performed by general surgeons. Mesh repair is the gold standard for these repairs, the rates of postoperative chronic pain associated with these meshes are still unclear. The aim of the study is to compare the post-operative persisting pain after 3 months in open hernia repair with light weight and heavyweight mesh.Methods: A randomized control study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital with sample size of 80. lightweight and heavyweight mesh were used after randomization with equal participants in each group. Postoperative pain was analysed 1 week, 2 week and 3 months after surgery using visual analogue scale.Results: The study was conducted on a total of 80 participants. The mean age was 53(±16) and 46(±19) in those who received heavyweight mesh and lightweight mesh respectively. Majority of them 73(91.2%) were males and only 7 (8.8%) of them were females. Out of 80 participants, number of participants operated with lightweight mesh and heavyweight mesh was equal (1:1). At three months follow up, only mild and moderate pain was reported with both the groups. Among patients treated with heavy weight meshes 14 patients (35%) reported moderate pain with 26 patients (65%) reported mild pain. Among patients treated with lightweight mesh reported only 4 patients (10%) reported moderate pain with 36 patients (90%) reported only mild pain. There was significant difference in the mean of VAS score between the groups and there was significant difference between the type of mesh used and pain after 3 months (P<0.01).Conclusions: Partially absorbable lightweight mesh can be used for open inguinal hernia repair with significantly less chronic postoperative pain with improved quality of life and functional outcome.