Effect of antibiotic prophylaxis in open inguinal hernioplasty (Lichtenstein hernia repair): a study in tertiary care center

Abstract

Background: Inguinal hernia is one of the most common presenting surgical problems of abdomen and open inguinal hernioplasty (Lichtenstein hernia repair) is one of the most commonly performed general surgeries. Many time hernia repairs may lead to surgical site complication. There are many strong and effective antibiotics available for prophylaxis from these infections. Aims and objectives of the study were to compare rate of wound infection in post-operative cases among antibiotics prophylaxis group and placebo group.Methods: A prospective study was conducted in tertiary care centres with 200 patients enrolled in study. These patients were equally divided in both groups that is antibiotics arm and placebo group. The patients were in between age group of 18-70 years. The study duration was one and half years. Patients were included as per inclusion criteria. Data was entered and analysed using appropriate software.Results: There were total 200 patients recruited in the study with 100 patients in each group. Mean age of patients was 47.92±8.32 years in antibiotic group and 48.09±9.12 years in placebo group. All patients were males and most of th patients belong to rural area. A total of 12 patients develop surgical site infection out of which 6 patients were from antibiotics group and 8 patients from placebo group. Differences between these groups were not significant (0.426).Conclusions: This study showed that there was no clear acceptable benefit of antibiotics in prevention of post-operative wound infection in open inguinal hernioplasty (Lichtenstein hernia repair). Antibiotics administration did not reduce the incidence of wound infections in significant way.