Gelatin–resorcin–formalin (GRF) tissue glue as a novel technique for fixing prosthetic mesh in open hernia repair

Abstract

Various methods for the fixing of prosthetic mesh in open inguinal hernia repair are in vogue. We describe a novel way of fixing the mesh in Lichtenstein's method of hernia repair using tissue glue [gelatin-resorcin-formalin (GRF) glue] and compare it with the traditional method of fixing the mesh using non-absorbable sutures. Eighty patients with uncomplicated inguinal hernia were alternately assigned to one of two groups of 40 patients each, i.e., control group (conventional Lichtenstein repair) and study group (repair using GRF glue). The primary end point was post-operative pain measured by the visual analog score and post-operative analgesic requirement. The post-operative pain was found to be significantly less in the study group as compared to the control group. Using tissue (GRF) glue to fix the prosthetic mesh in Lichtenstein's method of hernia repair is a feasible and better alternative to non-absorbable sutures.