Mitos de la cirugía en la hernia inguinal. ¿Fue Lichtenstein el inventor de la técnica que lleva su nombre? Revindicando a Zagdoun en la vieja Europa. ¿Quién fue el primero?

Abstract

ObjectivesWe analyze the possibility that Zagodun, a French surgeon who in 1959 published an article in Mem Acad Chirur about treatment of iniguinal hernias with nylon plaques was the first one to ever place a flat synthetic plaque in the inguinal canal to perform hernial surgery, in the same way that it was described and published years later by the American Lichtenstein. ResultsThis article by Zagdounis is featured in the Patel-Leger treatise on surgical techniques (Toray-Masson 1972). Philippe Dètrie writes de article regarding surgical treatment for inguinal hernias where he shows a description and illustrations of the technique that fully justifies our theory: The technique known as Lichtenstein had been used many years before, since 1951, by Zagdoun and Sordinas in France in over 200 cases and with good results. Previously, these nylon plaques were used in 1844 by Acquaviva for big eventrations, and later in 1951 also by Lubín for inguinal hernias. ConclusionsWe may very well say that Lichtenstein is not the founder of the technique that has been named after him. Knowledge of herniology history is essential so as not to settle with a series of myths accepted without profound criticism.