Primary Unilateral Inguinal Hernia Research Articles

Matching males and females undergoing non mesh primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair: evaluating sex differences in preoperative and acute postoperative pain.

The objective was to compare pain and related psychological factors during the preoperative and acute postoperative period between male and female patients, who underwent non mesh primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair. After ethics approval, informed consent was obtained, and data were collected. Male and female participants were compared by manually matching one-to-one on 10 variables. Descriptive statistics (mean ± standard deviation and frequency) as well as numerical rating scales from 0 to 10 were used. Comparison tests were performed using Chi-square or Fisher's Exact test for categorical data and independent samples t-test or non-parametric equivalent tests for numerical scores. p < 0.05 is reported as statistically significant. To control type I error, Bonferroni correction was used. 72 participants with 36 matched pairs were included. Sex differences were found for operation length (p = .006), side of operation (p = .002), and hernia type (p = .013). Significant differences between the sexes were not found at the preoperative or postoperative time for resilience, pain interference or pain severity related measures, postoperative hernia pain incidence, pain catastrophizing, depression and anxiety symptoms, or return to normal activities. When controlling for known confounders and using a conservative Type I error rate, pain and related factors between the sexes did not differ significantly.

Higher rate of chronic pain in young men after open mesh vs nonmesh repair of elective primary unilateral indirect inguinal hernia: A nationwide questionnaire study

PurposeYoung age is a risk factor for chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair, but the role of the mesh in young patients is uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess chronic pain after open mesh versus non-mesh repair of indirect inguinal hernia in young men. Materials and methodsValidated questionnaires were sent to men aged 18–29 years at the time of an elective primary unilateral open repair of an indirect inguinal hernia between 1998 and 2015. Patients were identified in the Danish Hernia Database. Non-mesh repairs were matched 1:3 with mesh repairs (Lichtenstein) on age and follow-up time. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with chronic pain evaluated with the Activity assessment scale. Secondary outcomes included other pain measures and sexual impairment. ResultsIn total, 661 patients were included in this study (77% mesh and 23% non-mesh) with a median follow-up of 14.8 years (range 2.3–20.0) in the mesh group and 15.9 years (range 3.6–20.0) in the non-mesh group. For the primary outcome, 12% of patients in the mesh group compared with 6% in the non-mesh group had chronic pain (p=0.03). Patients in the mesh group had higher odds of chronic pain in adjusted analysis (OR=2.30 [95% confidence interval=1.11–4.77]). More patients in the mesh group had pain during sexual activity (p=0.01), but there were no differences for most of the remaining secondary outcomes. ConclusionYoung men had a higher rate of chronic pain after open mesh compared with non-mesh repair for indirect inguinal hernia, but results should be interpreted with caution.

Sutureless Repair for Open Treatment of Inguinal Hernia: Three Techniques in Comparison.

Currently, groin hernia repair is mostly performed with application of mesh prostheses fixed with or without suture. However, views on safety and efficacy of different surgical approaches are still partly discordant. In this multicentre retrospective study, three sutureless procedures, i.e., mesh fixation with glue, application of self-gripping mesh, and Trabucco's technique, were compared in 1034 patients with primary unilateral non-complicated inguinal hernia subjected to open anterior surgery. Patient-related features, comorbidities, and drugs potentially affecting the intervention outcomes were also examined. The incidence of postoperative complications, acute and chronic pain, and time until discharge were assessed. A multivariate logistic regression was used to compare the odds ratio of the surgical techniques adjusting for other risk factors. The application of standard/heavy mesh, performed in the Trabucco's technique, was found to significantly increase the odds ratio of hematomas (p = 0.014) and, most notably, of acute postoperative pain (p < 0.001). Among the clinical parameters, antithrombotic therapy and large hernia size were independent risk factors for hematomas and longer hospital stay, whilst small hernias were an independent predictor of pain. Overall, our findings suggest that the Trabucco's technique should not be preferred in patients with a large hernia and on antithrombotic therapy.

Comparison of Perioperative Complication Rates of Total Extraperitoneal and Transabdominal Preperitoneal Repairs in Primary Inguinal Hernia.

Hernia may be defined as a protrusion of viscus through layers anatomically designed to contain that viscus. Most abdominal hernias occur at well-described sites of potential weakness. Repair of inguinal hernia is one of the most common operations in general surgery. Objectives: To compare the perioperative complication rates of total extraperitoneal (TEP) and transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repairs of primary inguinal hernias. It is a randomised comparative study, conducted at the department of general surgery. A total of 50 patients were included and divided into two groups with 25 in each. Group A represents the laparoscopic TEP repair and group B represents the laparoscopic TAPP repair. Patients above 18 years with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were included. Patients having complicated inguinal hernia and history of previous abdominal surgery were excluded. We observed that hernia occurrence is more common in the 31-50 years of age group and right-sided hernia is more common. Scrotal oedema and conversion to open surgery chances are similar in both TEP and TAPP groups. The duration of surgery in TEP is significantly higher as compared to TAPP. Patients who underwent TEP experienced less pain as compared to TAPP as per visual analogue scale. Postoperative hospital stay and time taken to resume the routine activity were significantly less in case of TEP. TEP is preferred over TAPP for laparoscopic hernia repair because it preserves the peritoneal integrity and has lesser postoperative pain. The early recovery and return to the routine work were seen with the patient treated with the TEP and also showed better visual analogue score than the TAPP repair group.

Incidence of opioid use and early postoperative pain intensity after primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair at a single-center specialty hospital.

This research examined opioid use, pain intensity, and pain management after primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair (PUIHR) at a single-center specialty hospital. After research, ethics board approval, and informed consent, pain scores (0-10 numerical rating scale [NRS]) were obtained from survey-based questionnaires administered at the pre- and 3-day postoperative timepoints. Descriptive results are presented as frequency, mean, standard deviation, range, median, and interquartile ranges, as appropriate. Significance tests were conducted to compare participants who did and did not receive opioids after surgery. p-value <0.05 is considered statistically significant. As the standard of care, participants received nonopioid multimodal analgesia (acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)) and opioids, when necessary. A total of 414 and 331 participants completed the pre- and 3-day postoperative questionnaires, respectively. Out of the 414 participants, 38 (9.2%) received opioids during the postoperative stay. There was no significant difference between pain frequency or mean preoperative NRS pain intensity scores of those who did and did not receive opioids. Mean NRS pain intensity scores on day 3 after surgery were significantly higher for participants who received opioids (3.15±2.08) than those who did not (2.19±1.95), p=0.005. Most participants did not receive opioids after PUIHR and had lower mean postoperative NRS pain intensity scores compared to those who did, most likely reflecting the need for opioids among the latter. Opioids were discontinued by day 3 for all participants who received them. Therefore, for most patients undergoing PUIHR, effective pain control can be achieved with nonopioid multimodal analgesia in the early postoperative period.

Outcome Of Totally Extra-Peritoneal (TEP) Mesh Repair Among Patients With Unilateral Primary Inguinal Hernia: A Single Center Experience

Introduction: Inguinal hernias were conventionally treated with open methods like hernioplasty and herniorrhaphy. However, with the development in minimal access surgery, the trends have changed and surgeons are also performing the TEP and TAPP laparoscopic hernia repair routinely. Hence, a retrospective study was performed to assess the safety, feasibility, and associated complications of the TEP laparoscopic hernia repair. Methods: A single institution, single unit retrospective study of all TEP hernia repair was performed at the department of surgery from May 2020 to April 2021. Data of all patients undergoing TEP were obtained from a proforma attached to the case file during patients’ admission and was analyzed. Results: A total number of 30 patients underwent the TEP laparoscopic hernia repair during the study period. Age group ranged from 25 years to 80 years and a male preponderance was noted with all patients being male. Per operative findings of indirect hernia was noted in 27, and direct hernia in 3 patients. The mean operating time was 76.23 ± 13.53 minutes. Complications encountered in the post-operative period were seroma in one patient, and wound erythema in two patients. The mean hospital stay was 1.6 ± 0.72 days. Conclusion: Totally Extra-peritoneal (TEP) laparoscopic repair can be performed and has all the established benefits of minimal access surgery among patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia.

COMPARISON OF OUTCOME FOLLOWING TOTALLY EXTRAPERITONEAL REPAIR AND LICHTENSTEIN TENSION FREE HERNIOPLASTY FOR PRIMARY UNILATERAL INGUINAL HERNIA IN MALES

In spite of a steep learning curve, laparoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal repair (TEP) promises less wound complications and shorter hospital stays over Lichtenstein's repair for primary unilateral inguinal hernia. We randomly allocated 50 male patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia into two groups (21 in TEPgroup and 29 in open group) during a one year period and followed them up for a minimum of 3 months. Mean duration of surgery was 88.00 ± 28.12 minutes in laparoscopic repair versus 77.97 ± 22.22 minutes for open repair (p = 0.30). TEP group had signicantly lesser wound complications overall (p = 0.004), signicantly shorter mean post-operative stay (p&lt; 0.001) and earlier return to occupational work (p&lt; 0.00001). The incidence of groin pain at 3 months was again less in the TEP group (p = 0.70) with similar recurrences in both groups. So, TEP did not lead to increased recurrence but surprisingly offered better post-operative outcomes than Lichtenstein's repair.

A comparative study on short term surgical outcome between laparoscopic inguinal hernia mesh repair vs. open inguinal hernia mesh repair for primary unilateral inguinal hernias

Background: Current study was performed to compare the short-term surgical outcome of laparoscopic (TAPP) and open inguinal hernia mesh hernioplasty (Lichtenstein) in primary unilateral inguinal hernias such as time taken by patients to return to routine daily activities and return to work. Methods: This is a prospective, comparative study done in Apollo Main Hospital, Chennai comparing surgical outcomes between laparoscopic and open primary unilateral inguinal hernia mesh repair in a total of 60 patients with 30 patients in each arm. Results: Return to Job is 8 median days in laparoscopic group and 9 median days in open group which is significant with a p value of 0.000. Pain score at 12th hour is significantly lesser in laparoscopic group with a VAS score of 3 compared to open group with a VAS score of 4 with p value of 0.015. VAS score at POD 1 in laparoscopic group is 2 and in open group is 3 which is significantly lesser in laparoscopic group with a p value of 0.026. Pain score at POD 3 and 4 is significantly lesser in laparoscopic group with a p value of 0.001 and 0.008 respectively. laparoscopic group takes analgesia for a lesser number of days than the open group with a p value of 0.019. Conclusions: This study concludes laparoscopic repair for primary unilateral inguinal hernias is superior to Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty in terms of postoperative pain, early return to job and less consumption of postoperative analgesia.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Retrospective study of preservation and transection of the round ligament of uterus during laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair in adult women

PurposeThe processing of the round ligament of uterus in laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair of inguinal hernia in women has contended. This study aimed to explore whether there is any difference in the surgical outcome and postoperative complications between the two processing modalities, preservation, and transection of the round ligament of uterus, in adult female inguinal hernia patients undergoing TAPP.MethodsRetrospective analysis of 84 female patients (117 sides) who underwent TAPP in XXX Hospital from July 2013 to August 2022. Patient characteristics and technical details of the surgical procedure were collected and divided into two groups according to whether the round ligament of uterus was severed intraoperatively or not. There were 52 cases (77 sides) in the group with preservation of the round ligament of uterus and 32 cases (40 sides) in the group with transection of the round ligament of uterus, comparing the general condition, surgical condition, and the occurrence of postoperative related complications between the 2 groups.ResultsThe operative time for unilateral primary inguinal hernia was (129.2 ± 35.1) and (89.5 ± 42.6) minutes in the preservation and transection groups, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of age, length of hospital stay, ASA, BMI, history of lower abdominal surgery, type and side of hernia, intraoperative bleeding, and time to surgery for primary bilateral hernia (P > 0.05). In addition, there was likewise no statistical difference in the occurrence of postoperative Clavien–Dindo classification, VAS, seroma, mesh infection, labia majora edema, chronic pain or abnormal sensation in the inguinal region, and hernia recurrence in the two groups as well (P > 0.05).ConclusionThere is no evidence that the transection of the round ligament of the uterus during TAPP has an impact on postoperative complications in patients. However, given the important role of the uterine round ligament in the surgical management of patients with uterine prolapse and the high incidence of uterine prolapse in older women, hernia surgeons should also be aware of the need to protect the round ligament of uterus in older women.

The ANZ hernia repair practices study: low consensus on inguinal and small ventral hernia management and infrequent long-term follow-up.

The ANZ hernia repair practices study: low consensus on inguinal and small ventral hernia management and infrequent long-term follow-up.

Early Outcomes of Laparoscopic Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Repair.

Background Inguinal hernia repair is one of the commonest general surgical procedures performed all over the world. The introduction of synthetic mesh and laparoscopic repair has revolutionized inguinal hernia surgery in the recent past. Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair is now considered a well-established procedure with minimal complications and short hospital stay and less recurrence. The TAPP approach gives a good view of the inguinal anatomy and a better understanding of the sac contents. The learning curve associated with TAPP repair is much less as compared to total extraperitoneal (TEP) repair. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of TAPP repair for inguinal hernia in terms of the duration of surgery, hospital stay, complications, and recurrence rate. Method From March 1, 2019,to February 28, 2021, a total of 60 patients with inguinal hernias between ages 25 and 70 years were included in the study. A preoperative anesthesia assessment was done, and informed written consent was taken from all patients. The TAPP procedure was performed with polypropylene mesh in all cases, and surgery was performed by a surgeon with more than five years of laparoscopic experience. Results The total number of patients included in the study was 60. All patients were male. The mean±standard deviation (SD) age of the patients was 54.6±11.4 years. Unilateral primary inguinal hernia was present in 46 (76.6%) cases, recurrent in eight (13.3%) cases, and primary bilateral in six (10%) cases. The mean±SD duration of surgery for unilateral inguinal hernia was 59.1±15.7 minutes, and for bilateral hernia, it was 83.5±12.6 minutes.The mean hospital stay was 3.6±1.5 days. Scrotal swelling was noted as a common complicationin seven (11.6%) cases, surgical site infection (SSI) in three (5%), mesh infection in two (3.3%), urinary retention in two (3.3%), and chronic pain in one (1.6%). No recurrence was noted. Conclusion Transabdominal preperitoneal repair for inguinal hernia is a very effective procedure with a short learning curve and minimal complication rate. The hospital stay is less, and recurrence is very low.

Posterior mesh inguinal hernia repairs: a propensity score matched analysis of laparoscopic and robotic versus open approaches

PurposeInternational guidelines suggest the use of lapro-endoscopic technique for primary unilateral inguinal hernia (IHR) because of lower postoperative pain and reduction in chronic pain. It is unclear if the primary benefit is due to the minimally invasive approach, the posterior mesh position or both. Further research evaluating posterior mesh placement using open preperitoneal techniques is recommended. A potential benefit of open preperitoneal repair is the avoidance of general anesthesia, as these repairs can be performed under local anesthesia. This study compares clinical and patient-reported outcomes after unilateral laparo-endoscopic, robotic, and open posterior mesh IHRs.MethodsWe performed a propensity score matched analysis of patients undergoing IHR between 2012 and 2021 in the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative registry. 10,409 patients underwent a unilateral IHR via a posterior approach. Hernia repairs were performed via minimally invasive surgery (MIS) which includes laparoscopic and robotic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP), laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP), or open transrectus preperitoneal/open preperitoneal (TREPP/OPP) approaches. Propensity score matching (PSM) utilizing nearest neighbor matching accounted for differences in baseline characteristics and possible confounding variables between groups. We matched 816 patients in the MIS cohort with 816 patients in the TREPP/OPP group. Outcomes included patient reported quality of life, hernia recurrence, and postoperative opioid use.ResultsImprovement was seen after TREPP/OPP as compared to MIS IHR in EuraHS at 30 days (Median(IQR) 7.0 (2.0–16.64) vs 10 (2.0–24.0); OR 0.69 [0.55–0.85]; p = 0.001) and 6 months (1.0 (0.0–4.0) vs 2.0 (0.0–4.0); OR 0.63 [0.46–85]; p = 0.002), patient-reported opioid use at 30-day follow-up (18% vs 45% OR 0.26 [0.19–0.35]; p < 0.001), and rates of surgical site occurrences (0.8% vs 4.9% OR 0.16 [0.06–0.35]; p < 0.001). There were no differences in EuraHS scores and recurrences at 1 year.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates a potential benefit of open posterior mesh placement over MIS repair in short-term quality of life and seroma formation with equivalent rates of hernia recurrence. Further study is needed to better understand these differences and determine the reproducibility of these findings outside of high-volume specialty centers.

Kingsnorth's modified score as predictor of complications in open inguinal hernia repair

PurposeThis study aims to analyse the postoperative complications (30 days) on unilateral primary inguinal hernia repair and prove their correlation with the preoperative modified scoring system of Kingsnorth (KN).MethodsProspective study design collecting data from patients who underwent surgery for unilateral primary inguinal hernia in a University Hospital. The data were collected in the National Inguinal Hernia Registry (EVEREG). A statistical analysis to assess the association between the presence of postoperative complications and the preoperative and intraoperative variables was performed. The patients were classified depending on their KN score. Surgical complications and their relationship with the classification were specifically analysed. Study design was performed following STROBE statements.ResultsThe sample included 403 patients who met the inclusion criteria from which 62 (15.3%) subjects presented postoperative complications. The variables that presented a statistically significant relationship with the appearance of complications were a KN score of 5–8 (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.07–4.82; P = 0.03) and the involvement of a member of the abdominal wall surgery unit in the procedure (OR 0.28; 95% CI 0.08–0.92; P = 0.03). The KN score correlated with a longer duration of surgery (Pearson's correlation 0.291; P < 0.0001).ConclusionThe KN classification can predict the onset of surgical wound complications on patients who undergo a primary unilateral inguinal hernia surgery. A KN score of 5–8 has a higher probability of wound complications. When surgery is performed by the abdominal wall surgery unit, the chances of postoperative complications decrease.

A clinical study of trans-rectus sheath extrapreperitoneal procedure and Gilbert’s repair in the treatment of groin hernia

Background: The focus to improve surgical technique has changed from recurrence to chronic postoperative inguinal pain (CPIP). Nerve injury or stretching due to surgical approach or mesh fixation led to CPIP. Transrectus sheath preperitoneal procedure (TREPP) is a new open technique in which the mesh is placed preperitoneally via medial approach. The goal of this study was to evaluate and compare the results of TREPP with another open anterior approach- Gilbert’s repair which also doesn’t need mesh fixation; in view of operative time, duration of hospital stay, CPIP, recurrence and cost effectiveness.Methods: Between November 2013 and October 2015, an observational clinical study of TREPP and Gilbert’s repair in the treatment of groin hernia was conducted in the department of surgery, SMHS Hospital. Patients were enrolled after detailed history, clinical examination, all baseline investigations.Results: A total of 40 patients above 18 years of age with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were operated: 20 with TREPP and remaining 20 with Gilbert’s technique. Out of those who underwent TREPP 75% had indirect type and 25% had direct type hernia. Similarly, out of those who underwent Gilbert’s repair, 65% had indirect type and 35% had direct hernia. Operative time was significantly lower in TREPP with mean of 58.6±11.47 minutes in comparison to 68.4±9.54 minutes in Gilbert’s repair. Also, the mean hospital stay was 21.2±3.69 hours in TREPP whereas it was 31.2±6.03 hours in Gilbert’s repair.Conclusions: TREPP is a more feasible new technique for inguinal hernia repair with better results in terms of CPIP especially. It is more promising because of the complete preperitoneal view, the short learning curve, and the stay-away-from-the-nerves principle thereby offering better outcome and patient satisfaction.

Favorable outcomes of transabdominal compared with transinguinal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair

Introduction The present study was performed to compare postoperative pain following transinguinal preperitoneal repair (TIPP) and transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) performed by a single surgeon with adequate experience in each procedure. Material and methods Adult patients who underwent herniorrhaphy for elective unilateral primary inguinal hernia repair from April 2013 to October 2019 were identified. After propensity score matching, a numeric rating scale was used to compare postoperative pain scores at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month between patients who underwent TAPP and TIPP. Results Among 784 patients who underwent herniorrhaphy during the study period, 354 were analyzed by propensity score matching (TAPP, n = 177; TIPP, n = 177). Postoperative pain during normal activity was significantly lower in the TAPP group than in the TIPP group on day 1 (2.75 ± 1.67 versus 3.59 ± 1.86, p < 0.01), at 1 week (0.98 ± 1.11 versus 1.75 ± 1.51, p < 0.01), and at 1 month (0.11 ± 0.48 versus 0.29 ± 0.78, p = 0.01). There was no difference in pain at rest on day 1 and at one week, although TAPP was associated with significantly less pain at rest at one month than was TIPP (0.01 ± 0.08 versus 0.1 ± 0.49, p = 0.02). Conclusion TAPP is preferable to TIPP in patients undergoing elective unilateral primary inguinal hernia repair in terms of reducing short-term pain.

Randomised controlled trial: standard lightweight mesh vs self-gripping mesh in Lichtenstein procedure

&lt;b&gt; Introduction:&lt;/b&gt; Lichtenstein hernioplasty has been a gold standard of hernioplasty for 30 years now. However, the procedure may be followed by an unacceptably high rate of chronic pain, numbness and discomfort. &lt;/br&gt;&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Aim:&lt;/b&gt; To compare outcomes of Lichtenstein repair using a Parietene ProGrip self-fixing mesh versus the standard lightweight macroporous mesh. &lt;/br&gt;&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material and methods:&lt;/b&gt; As many as 141 patients with unilateral primary inguinal hernia participated in this single-centre, randomised, prospective, single-blind (patient-blinded) study. Randomisation yielded two treatment groups: control group of 88 patients treated with Lichtenstein method using lightweight standard mesh (LS) and study group of 53 patients receiving treatment with self-fixing mesh (PG). Patients were followed up for 6 months. Primary outcome was the presence and severity of postoperative pain at discharge, at 30 days and 6 months post-procedure. Other study parameters were: duration of the procedure, duration of hospitalisation, presence of early and late complications, time needed to return to full activity and patient satisfaction. &lt;/br&gt;&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; No statistically significant differences in pain severity were demonstrated at discharge or at long-term follow-up. In the first 30 days post-procedure the patients in the PG group complained of pain of greater severity on the NRS (2.0 vs 1.4) (P = 0.0466). The duration of the procedure in the PG group was 9.4 minutes shorter than in the LS group (P = 0.0027). No statistically significant differences between the groups were found in other studied parameters. &lt;/br&gt;&lt;/br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; Self-fixing mesh can be safely used in inguinal canal repair procedures. It significantly shortened the duration of the procedure but at the same time did not reduce the severity of pain, including the rate of chronic postoperative inguinal pain.

Can the preemptive use of lornoxicam or paracetamol prevent pain after inguinal hernia repair? A randomized prospective double-blind placebo controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have become a popular part of multimodal analgesic regimens particularly in ambulatory surgery. This study was designed to search the efficacy of preoperative administration of lornoxicam or paracetamol in patients who underwent open inguinal hernia repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification (ASA) I–III male patients with unilateral primary inguinal hernia scheduled for elective prosthetic repair under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to three groups. Group I patients were infused 100-ml normal saline 30 min before anesthesia (placebo), whereas Group II and Group III patients were given 8 mg lornoxicam or 1,000 mg paracetamol intravenously in 100-ml normal saline. Postoperative pain was treated with patient controlled intravenous morphine. Postoperative pain scores were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS) in the recovery room and at 1st, 6th, 12th, and 24th hours postoperatively in all groups. Total amount of analgesics. Liker scale and SF-36 form was also used at 4th week follow-up in order assess quality of life. RESULTS: Totally 88 patients were completed the study (G1 = 28, G2 = 30, and G3 = 30). Preemptive use of both lornoxicam and paracetamol resulted in significantly lower recovery room VAS scores in comparison with placebo group (3.93, 3.73, and 5.25). Both lornoxicam and paracetamol groups (G2 and G3) displayed better results at 12th h than placebo group (P = 0.04). VAS scores at 24th hour were similar in three groups. Total morphine consumptions were also similar between the groups at all times. Total postoperative 1-week oral analgesic use was significantly less in G2 (lornoxicam), and G3 (paracetamol) in comparison with G1 (placebo). Quality of life indicators in Likert Scale and SF-36 form were also not different. CONCLUSION: Preemptive use of both lornoxicam and paracetamol may be effective in early postoperative pain control in patients undergo elective open inguinal hernia repair. However, there seems to be no difference between the efficacies of the two agents.

ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IN CHRONIC PAIN AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR USING THE TRANSABDOMINAL TECHNIQUE COMPARING WITH FIXATION OF THE MESH WITH STAPLES, WITH GLUE OR WITHOUT FIXATION? A CLINICAL RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL.

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND:Regarding postoperative pain, it remains unclear whether non-fixation of the polypropylene prosthesis in transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair produces the same outcomes as mesh fixation with glue or tackers. In addition, hernia recurrence is another aspect to be assessed in the comparison between non-fixation and mesh-fixation techniques (tackers and glue).AIMS:This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, quality of pain, and recurrence in patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty (transabdominal preperitoneal) technique, comparing the fixation of the mesh with tackers versus with glue versus without fixation.METHODS:This is a prospective, double-blind study in which 63 patients presenting with primary unilateral inguinal hernia underwent laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair and were randomized into three groups: no mesh fixation (n=21), mesh tacked (n=21), and mesh fixed with fibrin glue (n=21). Patients also responded to questionnaires in order to assess pain and pain quality and were followed up for 2 years.RESULTS:Neither mesh-fixation nor non-fixation techniques were found to affect postoperative chronic pain (p=0.535), but patients undergoing tacker fixation reported more pain descriptors (p=0.0021) and a higher pain index (p=0.002) on the McGill scale in the first 15 postoperative days (T0 and T1). No hernia recurrences were observed.CONCLUSIONS:Both mesh-fixation techniques (tackers and glue) used with the transabdominal preperitoneal approach did not influence the onset of inguinodynia, but tacker fixation was more likely to increase patient sensitivity to pain. Mesh placement without fixation produced the same pain and recurrence outcomes as mesh-fixation techniques. Also, no recurrence was observed in patients without mesh fixation in this study. Consequently, it has become an alternative therapy deserving consideration for hernia repair.

Totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair versus Lichtenstein repair: a one-year follow-up study

The inguinal hernia has an incidence of 27 — 43 % in males. Surgical repair is the most accepted treatment to prevent the development of complications. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has become popular worldwide and includes the use of a laparoscopic technique for mesh placement behind the defect. Objective — to assess whether totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair shows benefits over Lichtenstein repair in intraoperative and one‑year follow‑up postoperative outcomes for male patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia. Materials and methods. 53 males were randomly allocated to two groups. Group 1 included 27 patients who underwent totally extraperitoneal hernia repair using self‑gripping lightweight mesh, and group 2 included 26 patients who were treated surgically with Lichtenstein repair using lightweight mesh. Results. Both groups were comparable in mean age, type of hernia, body mass index and patient’s distribution according to the European hernia society classification. TEP repair takes on average a little less time as compared to Lichtenstein repair, and this difference is not statistically significant. The mean of visual analogue scale for pain scoring in the first 24 hours after surgery as well as in the next 24 hours is statistically significantly smaller in group 1 compared to group 2. The mean time taken to return to work was 2.15 times longer in group 2 than in group 1, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusions. Totally extraperitoneal hernia repair shows potential benefits over Lichtenstein repair for primary unilateral inguinal hernias as it causes less pain in the postoperative period and ensures early return to work.

O12 OPEN PREPERITONEAL INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR, TREPP VERSUS TIPP IN A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Abstract Aim The preperitoneal mesh position for inguinal hernia repair showed beneficial results regarding Chronic Postoperative Inguinal Pain (CPIP) with low recurrence rates. Two open preperitoneal techniques, the TransREctus Sheath PrePeritoneal (TREPP) and the TransInguinal PrePeritoneal (TIPP) technique, were compared in a randomized clinical trial with the hypothesis of less patients with CPIP after TREPP due to complete avoidance of nerve contact. Materials and Methods Adult patients with a primary unilateral inguinal hernia were randomized to either TREPP or TIPP in four hospitals. Prior to the trial’s start the study protocol was ethically approved and published. Outcomes included CPIP after 1 year (primary outcome) and recurrence rates, adverse events and Health related Quality of Life (secondary outcomes). Follow-up was performed at 2 weeks, 6 months and 1 year. Results Baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. Pain was less often present after TREPP at 2 weeks and 6 months, but the CPIP at rest at 1 year was comparable 1.9% after TREPP vs 1.4% after TIPP, p = 0.535). The overall recurrence rate was higher in the TREPP group, 8.9% vs 4.6%, p = 0.022). Corrected for a learning curve for TREPP, no significant difference could be assessed (TREPP 5.7% and TIPP 4.8%, p = 0.591). Conclusions both the TREPP and TIPP technique resulted in a low incidence of CPIP after 1 year follow-up. The TREPP method can be considered a solid method for inguinal hernia repair if expertise is present. The learning curve of the TREPP techniques needs further evaluation.