Inguinal Hernia Repair In Men Research Articles

Long-Term Outcomes Following Inguinal Hernia Repair With Mesh Performed by Medical Doctors and Surgeons in Ghana

Objective: To assess long-term outcomes following inguinal hernia repair with mesh performed by medical doctors and surgeons in Ghana. Background: Task sharing of surgical care with nonsurgeons can increase access to essential surgery. Long-term safety and outcomes of task sharing are not well-described for hernia repair. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in Ho, Ghana. After completing a training course, 3 medical doctors and 2 surgeons performed inguinal hernia repairs with mesh on men with primary, reducible hernias. The primary outcome of this study was hernia recurrence at 5 years. The noninferiority limit was 5 percentage points. Secondary endpoints included pain and self-assessed health status at 5 years. Results: A total of 242 operations in 241 participants were included, including 119 hernia repairs performed by the medical doctors and 123 performed by the surgeons. One hundred and sixty-nine participants (70.1%) were seen in follow-up at 5 years, 29 participants (12.0%) had died and 43 (17.8%) were lost to follow-up. The overall 5-year recurrence rate was 4.7% (n = 8). The absolute difference in recurrence rate between the medical doctor group (2 [2.3%]) and the surgeon group (6 [7.3%]) was −5.0 (1-tailed 95% confidence interval, −10.5; P = 0.06), demonstrating noninferiority of the medical doctors. Participants experienced improvements in groin pain and self-assessed health status that persisted at 5 years. Conclusions: Long-term outcomes of elective mesh inguinal hernia repair in men performed by medical doctors and surgeons in Ghana were excellent. Task sharing is a critical tool to address the substantial morbidity of unmet hernia surgery needs in Ghana.

Do drains have an impact on the outcome after primary elective unilateral inguinal hernia repair in men?

The use of drains continues to be a controversial topic in surgery. In a review of that topic for incisional hernia it was not possible to find sufficient evidence of the need for a drain. Likewise, for inguinal hernia surgery the data available are insufficient. In a multivariable analysis of data from the Herniamed Registry for 98,321 patients with primary elective unilateral inguinal hernia repair in men, the role of a drain was investigated. A drain was used in 24.7% (n = 24,287/98,321) of patients. These patients were on average older, had higher BMI, longer operating time and received a smaller mesh. Drains were also used more often for patients with higher ASA score, risk factors, larger defects and scrotal hernia localization as well as for Lichtenstein, TEP and suture repair. The use of drains was highly significantly associated with intra- and postoperative complications as well as with complication-related reoperations. Hence, drains are used selectively in inguinal hernia repair for patients at higher risk of perioperative complications. Despite the use of drains, the outcome in this risk group is less favorable. It remains unclear if drains prevent further complications in high-risk patients. Drains are used selectively in high-risk men with primary elective unilateral inguinal hernia repair. Drains are associated with intra- and postoperative complications rates and complication-related reoperation rate. Drains can serve as an indicator for early detection of complications.

Early and late outcomes of total extra peritoneal and Lichtenstein repair for recurrent inguinal hernia repair in men: a comparative study

Background: Repair operation for recurrent inguinal hernia is a more exigent than the primary inguinal hernia. Open hernia repair associated with lower recurrence and fewer complications while the Laparoscopic repair associated with less pain postoperatively, early recovery time with subsequent earlier return to activity and better results regarding the wound.Methods: From November 2015 to March 2019, a total of 86 patients were randomized. 42 patients were recruited to total extra-peritoneal repair (TEP) group and 44 patients for Lichtenstein group. Overall, 86 were operated in general surgery department, Menoufia University hospitals.Results: The mean age of patients was 41.3±14.4, range from (25-55 years). One conversion occurred in the TEP group to Lichtenstein. Operative time was significantly low in TEP group (82.7 min) compared to Lichtenstein group (108 min). Hospital stay was significantly less in TEP group (1 day) compared to Lichtenstein group (1.8 days). Patients undergoing Lichtenstein repair have significant earlier oral intake than TEP group (3.7 vs. 6.6 hours). 12 cases developed seroma in Lichtenstein group with significant p value (0.001). This study showed less immediate and early VAS score in TEP group (2.3) versus high VAS score in Lichtenstein group (5.9) with highly significant p value (0.0001).Conclusions: TEP offer excellent results than LR for treatment of unilateral or bilateral recurrent inguinal hernia with lower morbidity and less incidence of post-operative pain with subsequent earlier return to normal activities.

Choosing the preferred method of primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair in men

More than 20 million inguinal hernia surgeries are performed annually. An international group of herniologists recommended performing transabdominal preperitoneal plastic surgery (TAPP), total extraperitoneal plastic surgery, and Liechtenstein hernioplasty in adults. At the moment, there are no criteria for choosing the method of plastic surgery in patients who may have TAPP, Liechtenstein hernioplasty. The study of two groups of 30 patients devided by the method of surgical treatment: transabdominal preperitoneal plastic (TAPP) and Liechtenstein hernioplasty has been carried out. The study included male patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia older than 18 years. The groups were compared in the early and late postoperative period. The data obtained revealed that in the early postoperative period, patients after TAPP showed a higher level of pain by the visual-analog scale (VAS) in comparison with the patients after Liechtenstein plastic surgery in 3 hours after surgery, with longer operation time. The assessment of pain level by VAS in 1 day after surgery, at the time of discharge, the fever level, the analgesics need, and the hospitalization duration showed the TAPP advantage over Liechtenstein hernioplasty. Long-term results were obtained by Carolinas Comfort Scale (CSS) questionnaire within 3, 6 months after the operation. Patients after TAPP showed slightly better results in comparison with patients after Liechtenstein hernioplasty. Therefore, TAPP is the preferred method of inguinal canal surgery in patients with open and laparoscopic surgery.

Duration and magnitude of postoperative risk of venous thromboembolism after planned inguinal hernia repair in men: a population-based cohort study.

Little is known regarding the magnitude and timing of the risk of VTE following inguinal hernia surgery. We aimed to determine the absolute and relative rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following planned inguinal hernia repair. We analysed male adults with a first inguinal hernia repair with no prior record of VTE from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, linked to the Hospital Episode Statistics (2001-2011). Crude rates and adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of the first VTE were calculated using Cox regression analysis to compare specific time periods following the surgery compared to the general population. We identified 28,782 men who underwent an inguinal hernia repair with 53 (0.18%) having a first VTE in the 90days following surgery. The overall rate of VTE in the first 90days following surgery was 7.61 per 1000 person years (pyrs) (95% CI 5.82-9.96). Increasing age, a body mass index >30kg/m2 and an in-patient procedure were associated with an increased risk of VTE, when compared to the general population. The risk of VTE was highest in the 1st month following the surgery with a 2.3- (aHR 2.33; 95% CI 1.09-4.99) and 3.5- (aHR 3.47; 95% CI 2.07-5.83) fold increased risk compared to the general population for both day case and planned in-patient procedures, respectively. Reassuringly, the absolute rates of VTE following inguinal hernia repair are low. Patients should be informed that their peak risk of VTE is during the 1st month following the surgery. Further studies on the optimum duration of thromboprophylaxis following surgery are required in high-risk patients undergoing hernia repair.

Laparo-endoscopic versus open recurrent inguinal hernia repair: should we follow the guidelines?

IntroductionOn the basis of six meta-analyses, the guidelines of the European Hernia Society (EHS) recommend laparo-endoscopic recurrent repair following previous open inguinal hernia operation and, likewise, open repair following previous laparo-endoscopic operation. So far no data are available on implementation of the guidelines or for comparison of outcomes. Besides, there are no studies for comparison of outcomes for compliance versus non-compliance with the guidelines.Patients and methodsIn total, 4812 patients with elective unilateral recurrent inguinal hernia repair in men were enrolled between September 1, 2009, and September 17, 2014, in the Herniamed Registry. Only patients with 1-year follow-up were included.ResultsOut of the 2482 laparo-endoscopic recurrent repair operations 90.5% of patients, and out of the 2330 open recurrent repair procedures only 38.5% of patients, were operated on in accordance with the guidelines of the EHS. Besides, on compliance with the guidelines multivariable analysis demonstrated for laparo-endoscopic recurrent repair a significantly lower risk of pain at rest (OR 0.643 [0.476; 0.868]; p = 0.004) and pain on exertion (OR 0.679 [0.537; 0.857]; p = 0.001). Comparison of laparo-endoscopic and open recurrent repair in settings of compliance versus non-compliance with the guidelines showed a higher incidence of perioperative complications and re-recurrences for recurrent repairs that did not comply with the guidelines.ConclusionThe EHS guidelines for recurrent inguinal hernia repair are not yet being observed to the extent required. Non-compliance with the guidelines is associated with higher perioperative complication rates and higher risk of re-recurrence. Even on compliance with the guidelines, the risk of pain at rest and pain on exertion is higher after open recurrent repair than after laparo-endoscopic repair.

Transversus Abdominis Plane Versus Ilioinguinal and Iliohypogastric Nerve Blocks for Analgesia Following Open Inguinal Herniorrhaphy.

ObjectivesWe hypothesized that preoperative (pre-op) ultrasound (US)-guided posterior transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) and US-guided ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block (ILI+IHG) will produce a comparable analgesia after Lichtenstein patch tension-free method of open inguinal hernia repair in adult men. The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve will be blocked separately.MethodsThis is a prospective, randomized, controlled, and observer-blinded clinical study. A total of 166 adult men were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a pre-op TAP group, a pre-op ILI+IHG group, and a control group. An intraoperative block of the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve was performed in all patients in all three groups, followed by postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with morphine. The pain intensity and morphine consumption immediately after surgery and during the 24 hours after surgery were compared between the groups.ResultsA total of 149 patients completed the study protocol. The intensity of pain immediately after surgery and morphine consumption were similar in the two “block” groups; however, they were significantly decreased compared with the control group. During the 24 hours after surgery, morphine consumption in the ILI+IHG group decreased compared with the TAP group, as well as in each “block” group versus the control group. Twenty-four hours after surgery, all evaluated parameters were similar.ConclusionUltrasound-guided ILI+IHG provided better pain control than US-guided posterior TAP following the Lichtenstein patch tension-free method of open inguinal hernia repair in men during 24 hours after surgery. (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01429480.)

Impact of Mesh Fixation on Chronic Pain in Total Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair (TEP): A Nationwide Register-based Study.

Mesh fixation is used to prevent recurrence at the potential risk for chronic pain in TEP. The aim was to compare the impact of permanent fixation (PF) with no fixation (NF)/nonpermanent fixation (NPF) of mesh on chronic pain after TEP repair for primary inguinal hernia. Men, 30 to 75 years old, consecutively registered in the Swedish Hernia Register for a TEP primary repair in 2005 to 2009, were included in a mail survey using SF-36 and the Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (IPQ). Primary endpoint was IPQ question "Did you have pain during past week that could not be ignored." Risk factors for chronic pain and recurrent operations were analyzed. A total of 1110 patients were included (325 PF, 785 NF/NPF) with 7.7% reporting pain at median 33 months follow-up. No difference regarding primary endpoint pain (P < 0.462), IPQ and SF-36 subscales were seen. Recurrent operation was carried out in 1.4% during 7.5 years follow-up with no difference between PF- and NF-groups including subgroups of medial hernias. All SF-36 subscale-scores were equal to or better than the Swedish norm. A postoperative complication was a risk factor for chronic pain (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.23-5.25, P < 0.023). The TEP procedure for primary inguinal hernia repair in men is associated with a low frequency of chronic pain and recurrent operations, with no difference between permanent fixation and no/nonpermanent fixation of mesh in a nationwide population-based study. TEP without fixation reduces costs and is safe for all patients.

Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair in Men With Lightweight Meshes May Significantly Impair Sperm Motility

To compare quality of life and fertility aspects after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in men using a heavyweight or lightweight mesh. The use of lightweight meshes in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair could have beneficial effects on quality of life and preservation of the spermatic structures due to a decreased foreign-body reaction. A total of 59 male patients planned for primary, unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia repair were randomized between a standard polypropylene (Marlex) or lightweight mesh (Vypro II, TiMesh). Main outcome measures were fertility aspects, assessed preoperatively and at 1-year follow-up by semen analysis and scrotal ultrasonography. Secondary outcomes were quality of life (SF-36 and McGill Pain Questionnaire) and recurrence up to 1 year postoperatively. Patients operated on with a VyproII or TiMesh mesh exhibited a decreased sperm motility (vs. preoperatively) compared with Marlex patients, respectively -9.5% and -5.5% versus +2% (P = 0.013). When the results after uni- and bilateral hernia repair were analyzed separately, this difference only remained significant in the bilateral hernia subgroup: -10% for VyproII and -17% for TiMesh versus +1% for Marlex (P = 0.037). Other fertility parameters (sperm concentration, morphology, and alpha-glucosidase level) were unchanged. There were no differences at any study point between the 3 groups regarding quality of life. Only for resumption of sport activities was a small advantage noted for VyproII versus Marlex patients (P = 0.045). After 1 year, no recurrences were observed; 3 patients (6%) complained of chronic disabling pain. Our data suggest that the use of lightweight meshes for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in male patients negatively influences sperm motility, without any benefit on quality of life. These alterations might be important in a subgroup of young male patients operated on laparoscopically for a bilateral hernia. This study was registered in the clinicaltrials.gov database (ID number NCT00925067).