Impact of Mesh and Fixation on Chronic Inguinal Pain in Lichtenstein Hernia Repair: 5-Year Outcomes from the Finn Mesh Study

Objective To find out the mesh fixation technique that minimises chronic pain in Lichtenstein hernioplasty. Summary background data Mesh fixation may affect chronic pain and recurrence after inguinal hernia surgery, but long-term results of comparative trials are lacking. Methods Lichtenstein hernioplasty was performed under local anaesthesia on 625 patients in day care units. The patients were randomised to receive either a cyanoacrylate glue (n = 216), self-gripping mesh (n = 202) or non-absorbable 3–0 polypropylene sutures (n = 216) for the fixation of mesh. A standardised telephone interview or postal questionnaire was conducted 5 years after the index operation. The patients with complaints suggesting recurrence or chronic pain (visual analogue scale ≥ 3, 0–10) were examined clinically. The rate of occasional pain, chronic severe pain, recurrence, re-operations, daily use of analgesics, overall patient satisfaction and sensation of a foreign object were recorded. Results A total of 82% of patients (n = 514) completed the 5-year audit including 177, 167 and 170 patients in the glue, self-fixation and suture groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of pain (7–8%), operated recurrences (2–4%), overall re-operations (4–5%), need for analgesics (1–2%), patient’s satisfaction (93–97%) or in the feeling of a foreign object (11–18%) between the study groups. Conclusion The choice of the mesh or fixation method had no effect on the overall long-term outcome, pain or recurrence of hernia. Less penetrating fixation (glue or self-gripping mesh) is a safe option for the fixation of mesh in Lichtenstein hernia repair.

Randomized Trial Comparing Self-Gripping Mesh with Polypropylene Mesh in Female Lichtenstein Hernioplasty

Several randomized trials comparing self-gripping mesh with polypropylene (PL) mesh in Lichtenstein hernioplasty revealed that the self-gripping mesh significantly reduced the operation time. In these studies, some enrolled only male patients, and in others, the proportion of women was extremely low. The aim of this research was to compare outcomes after self-gripping mesh repair with PL mesh secured with sutures in female Lichtenstein hernioplasty. Female patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were assigned randomly to undergo Lichtenstein hernioplasty with a self-gripping ProGrip (PG) mesh or a sutured PL mesh, followed-up at one week, one month, three months, one year, and two years. Demographics, hernia characteristics, and operative outcomes data were analyzed. Pain was assessed with a visual analog scale (0–10), and quality of life (QOL) was estimated by a 36-item short-form general survey (0–26). Forty eight patients in the PG group and 51 participants in the PL group completed the follow-up. The operation time of the PG (54.1 ± 12 minutes) group was significantly shorter than that of the PL (60.9 ± 11.3 minutes) group ( P = 0.045). At the one-month follow-up, the incidence of foreign body feeling in the PG group was significantly higher than that in the PL group ( P = 0.031), whereas no significant difference was observed in visual analog scale ≥3 and QOL. In a follow-up of three months, one year, and two years, there was no significant difference in foreign body feeling, chronic pain, QOL, and recurrence between two groups. The surgical outcomes of self-gripping mesh are comparable to those of the ordinary PL mesh with a reduced operation time in female Lichtenstein hernioplasty. Registration number: ChiCTR1800017360 ( http://www.chictr.org.cn ).

Pre-peritonial Repair for Recurrent Inguinal Hernia after Tension free Hernioplasty

Background: Inguinal herniorrhaphy is a common general surgical operation. The repair of recurrent hernia is difficult surgery due to obscured and distorted anatomy and risk of further recurrence. The aim of this study is to determine the outcome in terms of operative time, hospital stay, return to work, complications and recurrence of open pre-peritoneal repair for recurrent inguinal hernias after Lichtenstein tension-free hernioplasty. Materials and Method: It is a prospective observational study conducted at Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara from 2013 to 2016. A total of eight patients including referred from other centers were included. Pre-peritoneal repair was performed on recurrent hernias after Lichtenstein tension-free hernioplasty. Age, sex, operating time, hospital stay, time to return work, postoperative complications and recurrence of patients were noted. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS- 21. Patients were called for follow up in 2 weeks, 3 months and 12 months time. Results: Out of eight patients, seven were male, one was female with mean age of 59.5 years. Recurrence was common on direct inguinal hernia (six patients) who had previous Lichtenstein hernioplasty. Mean operative time was 43.13 minutes (35 to 50 minutes), mean hospital stay was 2.5 days (2 to 4 days) and mean time to return to work was 8.12 days (7 to 10 days). There was hematoma formation in one patient. Conclusion: Pre-peritoneal mesh repair is easy, safe, with less operative time, short hospital stay, low recurrence and complication rate for recurrent inguinal hernia after Lichtenstein hernioplasty.

Audit of Patient Outcomes after Lichtenstein Hernioplasty for the Repair of Adult Inguinal Hernia

Background: Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed surgeries worldwide. While numerous surgical approaches exist to treat inguinal hernias, the Lichtenstein tension-free mesh repair remains the gold standard. This retrospective study is carried out to evaluate the short and long term outcomes of Lichtenstein hernioplasty in the hand of a general surgeon. Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all adult inguinal hernia repair by Lichtenstein method between January .2003 and December 2009 was carried out. The outcome measures were early post-operative complications, incidence of chronic groin pain and recurrence rate. Results: A total of 526 procedures were carried out in 445 adult male patients during the study period. The median age of the patients was 49 years (range, 21-73 years). All patients underwent Lichtenstein hernioplasty under spinal anesthesia. Length of hospital stay was median 2.4 days (range, 1-4 days). Median time to the resumption of normal activities was 8 days (range, 5-1 0 days). Urinary retention was the most frequent early post-operative complication (5.1 6%). Rate of wound infection was acceptable (0.44%). Chronic groin pain was experienced by three patients (0.67%). There was no recurrence observed among the 291 (65.4% of the total) patients who were available after two years of the procedure. Conclusion: The Lichtenstein open tension-free mesh repair of adult inguinal hernia is a safe procedure with least post-operative morbidity and least chance for recurrence. It is a simple technique, quick and. easy to perform without compromising the patient's care and long-term outcome in the hand of an experienced general surgeon. Journal of Surgical Sciences (2012) Vol. 16 (2) : 54-58

Total extraperitoneal endoscopic hernioplasty (TEP) versus Lichtenstein hernioplasty: a systematic review by updated traditional and cumulative meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials

Background–purpose Totally extraperitoneal (TEP) endoscopic hernioplasty and Lichtenstein hernioplasty are the most commonly used approaches for inguinal hernia repair. However, current evidence on which is the preferred approach is inconclusive. This updated meta-analysis was conducted to track the accumulation of evidence over time. Methods Studies were identified by a systematic literature search of the EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. Fixed- and random-effects models were used to cumulatively assess the accumulation of evidence over time. Results The TEP cohort showed significantly higher rates of recurrences and vascular injuries compared to the Lichtenstein cohort; [Peto Odds ratio (OR) = 1.58 (1.22, 2.04), p = 0.005], [Peto OR = 2.49 (1.05, 5.88), p = 0.04], respectively. In contrast, haematoma formation rate, time to return to usual activities, and local paraesthesia were significantly lower in the TEP cohort compared to the Lichtenstein cohort; [Peto OR = 0.26 (0.16, 0.41), p ≤ 0.001], [mean difference = − 6.32 (− 8.17, − 4.48), p ≤ 0.001], [Peto OR = 0.26 (0.17, 0.40), p ≤ 0.001], respectively. Conclusions This study, which is based on randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) of high quality, showed significantly higher rates of recurrences and vascular injuries in the TEP cohort than in the Lichtenstein cohort. In contrast, rate of postoperative haematoma formation, local paraesthesia, and time to return to usual activities were significantly lower in the TEP cohort than in the Lichtenstein cohort. Future multicentre RCTs with strict adherence to the standards recommended in the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines will shed further light on the topic.

A comparative study of Lichtenstein hernioplasty performed under spinal anaesthesia versus local anaesthesia in treatment of unilateral inguinal hernia

Background: Lichtenstein mesh repair technique is widely used throughout the world in inguinal hernia repair. Hernioplasty done under local anaesthesia certainly has some benefits but it is yet to be proven as standard procedure. The aims of this study are to provide the data of a comparative study between Lichtenstein hernioplasties done under local versus spinal anaesthesia as well as add more data in this scenario.Methods: In this non randomized clinical study, 84 patients were selected by calculation of sample size. 42 patients were operated under spinal anaesthesia and another 42 were operated under local anaesthesia.Results: Mean duration of operation was slightly was slightly more in local anaesthesia i.e. 62.5 minutes (SD=17.8) versus 51.1 minutes (SD=21.5) in spinal anaesthesia. At 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours postoperative pain was significantly less in local anaesthesia group in comparison to spinal anaesthesia group with p=0.04, p=0.042, p=0.041 respectively. Postoperative complications like urinary retention, hypotension, and headache were more in spinal anaesthesia than in local anaesthesia. Duration of hospital stay was significantly less in local anaesthesia group i.e. 24.5 hours (SD=12.8) in comparison to spinal group 57.1 hours (SD=16.7).Conclusions:The study concludes that in local anaesthesia group, postoperative pain was significantly less and postoperative complications like urinary retention, headache, and hypotension were less evident compared to spinal anaesthesia. Hence the study concludes that local anaesthesia can be used as an alternative of spinal anaesthesia as a standard mode of anaesthesia for Lichtenstein hernioplasty operation.