Mesh plug versus Bassini operation: a randomized prospective study

Abstract

The advantages of Rutkow's mesh-plug hernioplasty over the Bassini operation have never been proved in a prospective randomized study. Since 1995 through 1998, in such a study, 70 patients were allocated to the Rutkow mesh plug repair group and 70 treated with the Bassini procedure. Both groups were well-balanced with regard to age, sex, ASA score and type and size of hernia (p > 0.05). The duration of the mesh plug procedure was shorter than for the Bassini operation (mean 42.8 min ± 8.5 (30–65) vs mean 59.2 min ± 17.5 (30–120)). Postoperative pain according to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in the plug group ranged from 0–6, mean 26 vs 2–9, mean 5.2, in the Bassini group (p 0.05). Length of hospital stay was statistically shorter in mesh repair (mean 4.3 ± 1.8 days (1–13) vs mean 6.2 ± 5.2 days (1–30) (p 0.05). The recurrence rate after the mesh plug procedure was lower than after the Bassini operation −7 (9.4%) vs 16 (20.5%) (p 0.05). This kind of follow-up examination is obligatory to assess the true recurrence rate. Results after the mesh plug procedure were better than after the Bassini operation. Postoperative complication rates and long-term discomfort did not differ statistically in the two groups.