COMPARISON OF OUTCOME FOLLOWING TOTALLY EXTRAPERITONEAL REPAIR AND LICHTENSTEIN TENSION FREE HERNIOPLASTY FOR PRIMARY UNILATERAL INGUINAL HERNIA IN MALES

Abstract

In spite of a steep learning curve, laparoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal repair (TEP) promises less wound complications and shorter hospital stays over Lichtenstein's repair for primary unilateral inguinal hernia. We randomly allocated 50 male patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia into two groups (21 in TEPgroup and 29 in open group) during a one year period and followed them up for a minimum of 3 months. Mean duration of surgery was 88.00 ± 28.12 minutes in laparoscopic repair versus 77.97 ± 22.22 minutes for open repair (p = 0.30). TEP group had signicantly lesser wound complications overall (p = 0.004), signicantly shorter mean post-operative stay (p< 0.001) and earlier return to occupational work (p< 0.00001). The incidence of groin pain at 3 months was again less in the TEP group (p = 0.70) with similar recurrences in both groups. So, TEP did not lead to increased recurrence but surprisingly offered better post-operative outcomes than Lichtenstein's repair.