Repeated laparoscopic treatment of recurrent inguinal hernias after previous posterior repair

Background

The reported recurrence rates after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair are 0–4 %. It is unclear which technique could best be offered to a patient with a recurrent hernia after a previous posterior repair. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the safety, feasibility, and reliability of a repeated laparoscopic repair (TAPP) for a recurrent hernia after a previous posterior inguinal hernia repair.

Methods

The study group contains 2,594 consecutive transabdominal inguinal hernia repairs (TAPP). Of these, 53 repairs were attempted in 51 patients for recurrent hernias after a previous posterior repair. During the follow-up period, patients were examined for recurrences and for presence of a port-site hernia. Pain was scored by the visual analogue pain scale (VAS).

Results

Fifty-one patients underwent a TAPP repair for a recurrent inguinal hernia after previous posterior hernia repair. Two patients presented a bilateral recurrent inguinal hernia. In two thirds of the patients, the recurrence was located caudally or medially from the previously placed mesh. Two attempted repairs had to be converted to an open technique due to severe adhesions. One intraoperative complication was encountered when the vas deferens was ligated during surgery due to adhesions of the previous placed mesh. Nine patients encountered an adverse event postoperatively, but none of them were serious events. No mesh infections were reported. The mean follow-up was 70 (range, 1–198) months. At follow-up, no recurrences were found at physical examination. Four patients developed a port-site hernia. Four patients had complaints of postoperative pain and were restricted in daily activities due to groin pain. The mean VAS score (scale 0–100), including the four patients with persistent pain, was 5.7 (range, 0–61).

Conclusions

It is concluded that repeated laparoscopic hernia repair (TAPP) is a definite repair for recurrent inguinal hernias. The procedure is feasible, safe, and reliable.     

Randomized clinical trial comparing lightweight mesh with heavyweight mesh for primary inguinal hernia repair

Purpose

The aim of the present randomized clinical trial was to compare feeling of a foreign body and the early and late outcomes after inguinal hernia repair with the heavyweight (HW) mesh and lightweight (LW) mesh during a 12-month follow-up at a single specialist center.

Materials and methods

One hundred and ten patients were randomized into HW and LW mesh groups, both of which underwent unilateral primary inguinal hernia via the Lichtenstein technique. At each postoperative visit, any complication, recurrence, feeling of a foreign body, quality of life, residual pain, and numbness were recorded.

Results

Complaint of feeling of a foreign body on the repaired side was more frequent in the HW mesh group than in the LW mesh group (P < 0.05). Fewer patients in the LW mesh group reported postoperative numbness around the groin or down the thigh than did those in the HW mesh group (P < 0.05). At 12-month follow-up, however, there was no difference between the LW and HW mesh groups as regards the incidence or severity of pain or discomfort and recurrence rate and nor was there any significant dissimilarity between the two study groups in any dimension of quality of life on the SF-36.

Conclusion

There was no significant difference between our LW mesh and HW mesh groups in terms of chronic pain incidence, recurrence rate, and quality of life following inguinal hernia repair. However, fewer patients in the LW mesh group reported numbness around the groin or down the thigh postsurgery than did those in the HW mesh group and therein may lie in the superiority of LW mesh for inguinal hernia repair. Larger cohort studies with longer follow-up periods are required to elucidate in the future the benefits of the LW mesh.     

Tension-free open hernia repair using an innovative self-gripping semi-resorbable mesh

Background

Lichtenstein tension-free mesh repair is the most commonly used technique for the open treatment of inguinal hernia. Mesh fixation and the potential risk of associated pain are always a surgical concern. The aim of this study was to report the initial clinical experience using an innovative, partly resorbable mesh with self-gripping properties.

Methods

Fifty-two patients (70 hernias) underwent open Lichtenstein hernia repair with Parietene^® Progrip (Sofradim Production, Trévoux, France—Group Covidien). Patient pain as measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS) was the primary study endpoint. Clinical evaluation, with careful attention to the identification of hernia recurrence, was performed at 1 month and 1 year. The evaluation of fixation precision, quality of fixation and ease of use was assessed by the primary surgeon.

Results

The mean patient pain was 1.3 (±1.4) at discharge, 0.1 (±0.4) at 1 month and 0.0 (±0.1) (one patient with VAS 1/10) at 1 year, respectively. The mean operative time was 19 ± 4 min. There was one minor cutaneous infection and no documented recurrence. The quality of the gripping effect was rated very good in 51 (98.1%) of the cases performed.

Conclusion

The use of a novel low-density, macroporous mesh with semi-resorbable self-fixing properties during tension-free repair may be a satisfactory solution to the clinical problems of pain and recurrence following inguinal herniorrhaphy.     

Internal plug mesh without fixation in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) repair of inguinal hernias: a pilot study

Purpose

Mesh fixation is essential in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) repair of inguinal hernia; however, fixation sometimes causes post-operative pain. This study investigated a novel method of laparoscopic TEP repair without mesh fixation.

Methods

This study reviewed data from about two-hundred and forty-one laparoscopic TEP repairs on 219 patients, which were performed between December 2004 and October 2005.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in the recurrence rate, seroma formation, and hospital stay. However, the mean operation time was shorter in the internal plug mesh group than the fixation group (p = 0.009), and post-operative pain only occurred in 4 cases in the internal plug mesh group in comparison to 29 cases in the mesh fixation group (p = 0.014).

Conclusions

An internal plug mesh without fixation might reduce post-operative pain after laparoscopic TEP repair of an inguinal hernia. Internal plug mesh without fixation may be an alternative method in laparoscopic TEP repair, especially for those involving indirect hernias.     

Inguinal hernia repair using a synthetic long-term resorbable mesh: results from a 3-year prospective safety and performance study

Purpose

Conventional meshes for hernia repair and abdominal wall reinforcement are usually made from polypropylene, polyester or other synthetic plastic materials known to promote foreign body reactions and a state of chronic inflammation that may lead to long-term complications. A novel approach is to use long-term resorbable implants like TIGR^® Matrix Surgical Mesh. Preclinical studies have shown that this mesh maintains mechanical integrity beyond the point in time where newly formed tissue is capable of carrying the abdominal loads.

Methods

This was a first-in-man, prospective, pilot study performed during 2009, at two sites in Sweden. Forty patients with primary inguinal hernias were enrolled for Lichtenstein repair using TIGR^® Matrix Surgical Mesh. The primary endpoint was safety as assessed by monitoring the incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events (SAEs) both related and unrelated to the mesh. The secondary endpoint was pain or discomfort. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 0–10 and Inguinal Pain Questionnaire were used for scoring pain and discomfort. Included patients have been followed for 36 months using ultrasound in combination with clinical examination.

Results

All patients followed a normal early postoperative course. After 12 months no SAEs were reported. None of the patients with an isolated lateral inguinal hernia (LIH) had developed a recurrence but 4 (44 %) with medial and 4 (33 %) with combined hernias had recurred at 36-month follow-up. After 3-year follow-up none of the patients with LIH reported pain in the VAS-form and none of those patients could feel the sensation of a mesh in their groin. In the total study population 5 (16 %) patients experienced chronic pain in the form of mild sporadic pain and 3 (9.7 %) patients could feel the sensation of a mesh in their groin.

Conclusion

The use of a synthetic long-term resorbable mesh (TIGR^® Matrix Surgical Mesh) in Lichtenstein repair was found to be safe, without recurrences, and promising regarding pain/discomfort at 3-year follow-up in patients with LIH. However, patients with medial and combined inguinal hernias had high recurrence rates.     

Health status one year after TransInguinal PrePeritoneal inguinal hernia repair and Lichtenstein’s method: an analysis alongside a randomized clinical study

Background

The Lichtenstein technique is the treatment of first choice according to guidelines for primary inguinal hernia treatment. Postoperative chronic pain has been reported as complication in 15–40 % after Lichtenstein’s repair. The postoperative effects on health status after open preperitoneal hernia repair have hardly been examined. Development of an open technique that combines the safe anterior approach of the Lichtenstein with the ‘promising’ preperitoneal soft mesh position was done; the transinguinal preperitoneal (TIPP) mesh repair. A double-blind prospective randomized controlled trial (TULIP trial, ISRCTN93798494) was conducted to compare different outcome parameters after TIPP or Lichtenstein, one parameter is topic of evaluation in this paper; the health status after TIPP and Lichtenstein for inguinal hernia repair.

Methods

The study protocol has been published. It was hypothesized that the health status of inguinal hernia patients would be better after the TIPP repair compared with the Lichtenstein technique. The size of this study was based on chronic pain as primary outcome measure. Three hundred and two patients were randomized. Patients and the outcome assessors were blinded. Follow-up was scheduled after 14 days, 3 months, and 1 year. The three dimensions of possible errors were warranted.

Results

With regard to health status, significant differences were found in the dimensions ‘physical pain’ [difference: 6.1 (95 % CI 2.3–9.9, p = 0.002)] and ‘physical functioning’ [difference: 3.5 (95 % CI 0.5–6.7, p = 0.023)], favoring the TIPP patients after 1 year.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the SF-36 ‘physical function’ and ‘physical pain’ dimensions after TIPP show significant better patient outcomes at 1 year compared with the Lichtenstein patients in this trial. These differences are in line with reported significant differences in less patients with postoperative chronic pain after TIPP compared with Lichtenstein at 1 year.     

Lightweight versus heavyweight mesh in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a meta-analysis

Background

Reinforcement of inguinal hernia repair with prosthetic mesh is standard practice but can cause considerable pain and stiffness around the groin and affect physical functioning. This has led to various types of mesh being engineered, with a growing interest in lighter-weight mesh. Minimally invasive approaches have also significantly reduced postoperative recovery from inguinal hernia repair. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the outcomes after laparoscopic inguinal repair using new lightweight or traditional heavyweight mesh in published randomised controlled trials.

Methods

Medline, Embase, trial registries, conference proceedings, and reference lists were searched for controlled trials of heavyweight versus lightweight mesh for laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernias. The primary outcomes were recurrence and chronic pain. Secondary outcomes were visual analogue pain score at 7?days postoperatively, seroma formation, and time to return to work. Risk differences were calculated for categorical outcomes and standardised mean differences for continuous outcomes.

Results

Eight trials were included in the analysis of 1,667 hernias in 1,592 patients. Mean study follow-up was between 2 and 60?months. There was no effect on recurrence [pooled analysis risk difference 0.00 (95% CI ?0.01 to 0.01), p?=?0.86] or chronic pain [pooled analysis risk difference ?0.02 (95% CI ?0.04 to 0.00); p?=?0.1]. Lightweight and heavyweight mesh repair had similar outcomes with regard to postoperative pain, seroma development, and time to return to work.

Conclusion

Both mesh options appear to result in similar long- and short-term postoperative outcomes. Further long-term analysis may guide surgeon selection of mesh weight for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.     

Surgical treatment of chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair

Background

Chronic groin pain is defined as pain arising 3–6 months after inguinal hernia repair that can compromise the patient’s quality of life. Many articles in the literature report clinical presentation, but there are no well-defined indications and protocols of treatment.

Methods

Forty-six patients underwent surgical treatment for chronic groin pain that consisted of a simultaneous double approach, anterior and posterior, to the inguinal region, with 44 triple neurectomies and 2 iliohypogastric neurectomies. Ilio-inguinal and ilio-hypogastric nerves were resected by anterior approach, while genitofemoral trunk was resected by a posterior pre-peritoneal approach. Mesh was removed in 24 cases, and mesh and plug were removed in 16 cases. A new mesh repair was performed in 42 cases. All the patients were examined 1 week, 1 month and 1 year postoperatively.

Results

In 40 patients, the surgical treatment has obtained good response with improvement or complete resolution of the pain. Two patients referred persistent groin pain different from preoperative and in 4 cases the pain persisted without substantial benefit. Mean VAS value was 7.89 before surgery and 1.89 after surgery.

Conclusions

Choice of the adequate therapy of chronic groin pain after inguinal hernia repair is still controversial. Our surgical approach turned out to be a safe and effective procedure. In this way, an accurate exploration of the whole inguinal region can be performed along with the identification of the nerves involved. Anyway in a certain number of cases, the resolution of pain cannot be achieved; this suggests a possible involvement of differences in the single personality and tolerances of pain in the different patients.     

The preperitoneal memory-ring patch for inguinal hernia: a prospective multicentric feasibility study

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility, the reproducibility, the safety and the efficacy of a recently introduced preperitoneal memory-ring patch (Polysoft^®, Davol Inc., C.R. Bard Inc., Crawley, UK) by a prospective multicentric observational study.

Methods

We performed 235 unilateral groin hernia repairs in 200 consecutive patients during a 12-month period. Patients were operated by three different surgeons in two different centres. Pre- and intraoperative data, as well as postoperative complications, were prospectively recorded.

Results

Two hundred patients, with a mean age of 55.4 years, were operated for primary or recurrent unilateral groin hernias. The mean operation time for unilateral hernia repair was 22 min (range 14–37 min). Seventy-one patients (35.5%) were operated in an ambulatory setting. Considering pain scores, we observed a preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score of 1.4 (range 0–3.7). After 24 h, 3 weeks and 6 months, VAS was 4.2 (0.5–6.9), 1.7 (0–2.0) and 0.1 (0–1.5), respectively. The follow-up was more than 18 months in all patients (range 19–31 months). In total, three patients were diagnosed with a recurrence and were reoperated by an anterior Lichtenstein repair with large-pore mesh.

Conclusion

This transinguinal minimally invasive preperitoneal mesh repair is reproducible, easy to perform and safe with acceptable mid-term results. These elements, together with a minimal superficial dissection in the inguinal canal, preperitoneal mesh placement and the absence of fixation, are possible elements to reduce acute and chronic postoperative pain compared to other open and also laparoscopic techniques that have to be proven in larger (randomised) trials.     

Three-year results of randomised clinical trial comparing lightweight mesh with heavyweight mesh for inguinal hernioplasty

Purpose

The aim of the present randomised study was to find out whether usage of lightweight mesh in inguinal hernia repair, compared with heavyweight mesh, results in decreased incidence of chronic groin pain and foreign body feeling, as well as to evaluate the risk factors for chronic pain development and hernia recurrences.

Methods

The patients were randomised into the heavyweight mesh (HW) group and lightweight mesh (LW) group. A tension-free mesh repair using the Lichtenstein technique was performed on all patients. Pain scores during different activities were measured on visual analogue scale. All patients underwent a clinical examination for any evidence of hernia recurrence.

Results

Of the patients, 17.2?% in the HW group and 29.3?% in the LW group reported that they experienced pain at 3-year follow-up (P?=?0.1323). Pain was most often reported during physical activity. The median VAS score of all studied activities was 30.5 in the HW group and 30.0 in the LW group. There were more patients in the HW group than in the LW group who stated that they could feel the mesh in the groin (27.6 vs. 20.7?%, P?=?0.3967). Among all patients, 42.9?% who had severe pain preoperatively also reported pain during different activities and 19.6?% of the patients who did not have severe pain preoperatively reported pain during different activities (P?=?0.0481). At 3-year follow-up, there was 1 hernia recurrence in the HW group and 1 hernia recurrence in the LW group.

Conclusions

Our study shows that compared with HW mesh, LW mesh has no advantage in reducing chronic groin pain and foreign body feeling at the operation site after inguinal hernioplasty at 3-year follow-up. Severe preoperative pain was correlated with the development of chronic pain. There was no difference between the two study groups in the recurrence rates.     

Mesh fixation with fibrin sealant during endoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia approach: a review of 640 repairs

Purpose

Endoscopic repair of inguinal hernia can decrease the incidence of chronic groin pain. Staple mesh fixation is the surgical technique preferentially used but may also cause residual pain. Although a substantial number of specialists advocate no mesh fixations, concerns are that this could lead to an increase in recurrence rates. This study aimed to assess the safety and the effectiveness of fibrin sealant, as an alternative technique to staple mesh fixation after totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair.

Methods

A total of 472 patients underwent elective TEP inguinal hernia repair between February 2005 and July 2011. Mesh fixation was achieved using fibrin sealant. Patients were reviewed postoperatively at Week 2, Week 6, and Month 6. Patient satisfaction was assessed in a subgroup of 116 patients using a comprehensive scoring system designed for hernia repairs, and pain was assessed using a standard Visual Analog pain Scale.

Results

No conversion to open surgery was observed. There were two cases of major morbidities and no mortality. Three months after surgery, only three patients (0.6 %) experienced chronic groin or testicular discomfort. At Week 6, 98.9 % of the patients were either satisfied or very satisfied with their outcome, and 96.8 % denied any residual pain. Finally, only six hernia recurrences (0.9 %) were reported, of which five occurred during the first months of the study.

Conclusions

Fibrin sealant is safe and reliable for mesh fixation of inguinal hernia during TEP repair with a very high satisfaction index and limited risk of developing chronic pain.     

Assessing the impact of short-term surgical education on practice: a retrospective study of the introduction of mesh for inguinal hernia repair in sub-Saharan Africa

Purpose

Inguinal hernia repair is the most common general surgery operation performed globally. However, the adoption of tension-free hernia repair with mesh has been limited in low-income settings, largely due to a lack of technical training and resources. The present study evaluates the impact of a 2-day training course instructing use of polypropylene mesh for inguinal hernia repair on the practice patterns of sub-Saharan African physicians.

Methods

A surgical training course on tension-free mesh repair of hernias was provided to 16 physicians working in rural Ghanaian and Liberian hospitals. Three physicians were requested to prospectively record all their inguinal hernia surgeries, performed with or without mesh, during the 14-month period following the training. Demographic variables, diagnoses, and complications were collected by an independent data collector for mesh and non-mesh procedures.

Results

Surgery with mesh increased significantly following intervention, from near negligible levels prior to the training to 8.1 % of all inguinal hernia repairs afterwards. Mesh repair accounted for 90.8 % of recurrent hernia repairs and 2.9 % of primary hernia repairs after training. Overall complication rates between mesh and non-mesh procedures were not significantly different (p = 0.20).

Conclusions

Three physicians who participated in an intensive education course were routinely using mesh for inguinal hernia repair 14 months after the training. This represents a significant change in practice pattern. Complication rates between patients who underwent inguinal hernia repairs with and without mesh were comparable. The present study provides evidence that short-term surgical training initiatives can have a substantial impact on local healthcare practice in resource-limited settings.     

Inguinal hernia repair in women: is the laparoscopic approach superior?

Purpose

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is associated with reduced post-operative pain and earlier return to work in men. However, the role of laparoscopic hernia repair in women is not well reported. The aim of this study was to review the outcomes of the laparoscopic versus open repair of inguinal hernias in women and to discuss patients’ considerations when choosing the approach.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of all consecutive patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair from January 2005 to December 2009 at a single institution was conducted. Presentation characteristics and outcome measures including recurrence rates, post-operative pain and complications were compared in women undergoing laparoscopic versus open hernia repair.

Results

A total of 1,133 patients had an inguinal herniorrhaphy. Of these, 101 patients were female (9 %), with a total of 111 hernias. A laparoscopic approach was chosen in 44 % of patients. The majority of women (56 %) presented with groin pain as the primary symptom. Neither the mode of presentation nor the presenting symptoms significantly influenced the surgical approach. There were no statistically significant differences in hernia recurrence, post-operative neuralgia, seroma/hematoma formation or urinary retention between the two approaches (p < 0.05). A greater proportion of patients with bilateral hernias had a laparoscopic approach rather than an open technique (12 vs. 2 %, p = 0.042).

Conclusions

Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy is as safe and efficacious as open repair in women, and should be considered when the diagnosis is in question, for management of bilateral hernias or when concomitant abdominal pathology is being addressed.     

Female ‘groin’ hernia: totally extraperitoneal (TEP) endoscopic repair seems the most appropriate treatment modality

Background

About 30% of all female ‘groin’ hernias are femoral hernias, although often only diagnosed during surgery. A Lichtenstein repair though, as preferred treatment modality according to guidelines, would not diagnose and treat femoral hernias. Totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair, however, offers the advantage of being an appropriate modality for the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of both inguinal and femoral hernias. TEP therefore seems an appealing surgical technique for women with groin hernias.

Methods

This study included all female patients ≥18?years operated for a groin hernia between 2005 and 2009.

Results

A total of 183 groin hernias were repaired in 164 women. TEP was performed in 85% of women; the other 24 women underwent an open anterior (mesh) repair. Peroperatively, femoral hernias were observed in 23% of patients with primary hernias and 35% of patients with recurrent hernias. There were 30 cases (18.3%) of an incorrect preoperative diagnosis. Peroperatively, femoral hernias were observed in 17.3% of women who were diagnosed with an inguinal hernia before surgery. In addition, inguinal hernias were found in 24.0% of women who were diagnosed with a femoral hernia preoperatively. After a follow-up of 25?months, moderate to severe (VAS 4-10) postoperative pain was reported by 8 of 125 patients (6.4%) after TEP and 5 of 23 patients (21.7%) after open hernia repair (P?=?0.03). Five patients had a recurrent hernia, two following TEP (1.4%) and three following open anterior repair (12.5%, P?=?0.02). Two of these three patients presented with a femoral recurrence after a previous repair of an inguinal hernia.

Conclusion

Femoral hernias are common in women with groin hernias, but not always detected preoperatively; this argues for the use of a preperitoneal approach. TEP hernia repair combines the advantage of a peroperative diagnosis and subsequent appropriate treatment with the known good clinical outcomes.     

Lichtenstein technique for inguinal hernia repair using polypropylene mesh fixed with sutures vs. self-fixating polypropylene mesh: a prospective randomized comparative study

Purpose

Chronic postoperative pain is probably the most significant complication of tension-free inguinal hernia repair as its presence can considerably affect the life quality of the patient. Different mesh materials and different surgical techniques for mesh fixation have been applied to reduce chronic postoperative pain, with controversial, nevertheless, results. The aim of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate the effect of a relatively new mesh with self-fixating properties, used to repair inguinal hernia with the Lichtenstein technique, on early and chronic postoperative pain.

Methods

Between June 2009 and June 2010, 50 patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were treated using the Lichtenstein technique. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a polypropylene mesh, fixed with polypropylene sutures (n = 25; group A), or a self-fixating polypropylene mesh with resorbable polylactic acid microgrips (n = 25; group B). Demographic data were recorded. Early and chronic postoperative pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS). Duration of surgery, complications, length of hospitalization and recurrence were also recorded.

Results

No statistical difference was found between the two groups in association to demographic data. Operating time was 53.4 ± 12.5 and 44.4 ± 7.2 min in groups A and B, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). No difference was observed between the groups regarding the postoperative complications. The VAS of early postoperative pain was 1.7 ± 1.9 in group A and 1.3 ± 1.6 in group B, with the difference being not statistically significant (p = 0.21). Concerning chronic pain, no remarkable statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups at 3-month, 1- and 2-year follow-up period. At the end of the study, no recurrence was reported in either group.

Conclusions

Self-fixating mesh can be safely and effectively used in inguinal hernia repair with the additional advantage of reducing the operative time compared to the classic Lichtenstein technique. However, its use is not accompanied by reduced rates in early or chronic postoperative pain.     

Single-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal mesh hernioplasty: results in 182 Japanese patients

Background

We introduced single-incision transabdominal preperitoneal (S-TAPP) herniorrhaphy (described herein) at our institution in June 2010. We recently conducted a retrospective study to assess the feasibility and safety of the procedure.

Methods

The study involved 182 patients (159 men, 23 women) who underwent S-TAPP herniorrhaphy between June 2010 and February 2015 for 202 groin hernias (162 unilateral hernias, 20 bilateral hernias). We examined patient characteristics, hernia type and presentation, operation time, conversion to another repair procedure, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain, morbidities, and postoperative hospital stay. We further evaluated operation time and morbidity by comparison between cases of simple unilateral hernia and cases of complicated unilateral hernia, which was defined as (1) a recurrent hernia, (2) hernia following radical prostatectomy, or (3) an incarcerated omental or bowel hernia.

Results

Five types of hernia were treated: indirect inguinal, direct inguinal, femoral, combined inguinal, and other (a urinary bladder hernia). Operation time was 92.5 ± 29.1 min for the unilateral hernias and 135.7 ± 24.5 min for the bilateral hernias. No major bleeding occurred. Postoperative pain was short-lived and easily managed. Overall morbidity was 8.2% (15/182 patients), and only one postoperative complication (recurrence) required surgical intervention (repeat S-TAPP). Average postoperative stay was 6.7 ± 2.6 days. Two patients experienced numbness in the outer thigh, but this resolved naturally. One superficial surgical site infection developed and was easily treated. Operation times were greater for the complicated vs. simple hernias, but the time differed significantly (p = 0.02) only between radical prostatectomy-associated hernia and simple hernia. No complicated hernia required conversion to traditional laparoscopic repair, but in simple unilateral hernia group one conversion to traditional laparoscopic repair was required for difficulties encountered in the dissection of the large indirect inguinal hernia sac. The incidence of seroma was higher, though not statistically, in the complicated (n = 3) vs. simple hernia group.

Conclusions

S-TAPP repair of groin hernia was shown to be a feasible, safe procedure. The advantages are well understood, and further studies are warranted to confirm the long-term benefits suggested by our study.

     

Incidence of chronic groin pain following open mesh inguinal hernia repair,and effect of elective division of the ilioinguinal nerve: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Purpose

Chronic post-operative groin pain is a substantial complication following open mesh inguinal hernia repair. The exact cause of this pain is still unclear, but entrapment or trauma of the ilioinguinal nerve may have a role to play. Elective division of this nerve during hernia repair has been proposed in an attempt to reduce the incidence of chronic groin pain.

Methods

We performed a meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials comparing preservation versus elective division of the ilioinguinal nerve during this operation.

Results

A substantial proportion of patients having open mesh inguinal hernia repair experience chronic groin pain when the ilioinguinal nerve is preserved (estimated rate of 9.4% at 6 months and 4.8% at 1 year). Elective division of the nerve resulted in a significant reduction of groin pain at 6-months post-surgery (RR 0.47, p = 0.02), including moderate/severe pain (RR 0.57, p = 0.01). However, division of the nerve also resulted in an increase of subjective groin numbness at this time point (RR 1.55, p = 0.06). At 12-month post-surgery, the beneficial effect of nerve division on chronic pain was reduced, with no significant difference in the rates of overall groin pain (RR 0.69, p = 0.38), or of moderate-to-severe groin pain (RR 0.99, p = 0.98) between the two groups. The prevalence of groin numbness was also similar between the two groups at 12-month post-surgery (RR 0.79, p = 0.48).

Conclusions

Routine elective division of the ilioinguinal nerve during open mesh inguinal hernia repair does not significantly reduce chronic groin pain beyond 6 months, and may result in increased rates of groin numbness, especially in the first 6-months post-surgery.

     

Self-gripping mesh versus staple fixation in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a prospective comparison

Background

Transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair is widely used to treat bilateral or recurrent inguinal hernias. Recently a self-gripping mesh has been introduced into clinical practice. This mesh does not need staple fixation and thus might reduce the incidence of chronic pain. This prospective study aimed to compare two groups of patients with bilateral (BIH) or monolateral (MIH) primary or recurrent inguinal hernia treated with TAPP using either a self-gripping polyester and polylactic acid mesh (SGM) or a polypropylene and poliglecaprone mesh fixed with four titanium staples [standard technique (ST)].

Methods

In this study, 96 patients (mean age, 58 years) with BIH (73 patients with primary and recurrent hernia) or MIH (22 patients with recurrent hernia) underwent a TAPP repair. For 49 patients, the repairs used SGM, and for 46 patients, ST was used. The patients were clinically evaluated 1 week and then 30 days postoperatively. After at least 6 months, a phone interview was conducted. The short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire was administered to all the patients at the 6-month follow-up visit.

Results

The mean length of the procedure was 83 min in the SGM group and 77.5 min in the ST group. The mean follow-up period was 13.8 months (range 1.3–42.0 months) for the SGM group and 18.2 months (range 1.9–27.1 months) for the ST group. The recurrence rate at the last follow-up visit was 0 % in the SGM group and 2.2 % (1 patient) in the ST group. The incidence of mild chronic pain at the 6-month follow-up visit was 4.1 % in the SGM group and 9.1 % in the ST group, and the incidence of moderate or severe pain was respectively 2.1 and 6.8 %.

Conclusions

The study population was not large enough to obtain statistically significant results. However, the use of SGM for TAPP repairs appeared to give good results in terms of chronic pain, and the incidence of recurrences was not higher than with ST. In our unit, SGM during TAPP repair of inguinal hernias has become the standard.     

Open inguinal hernia repair with the use of polyglycolic acid/trimethylene carbonate absorbable mesh: a critical update of the long-term results

Purpose

Our group evaluated on a pilot basis open inguinal hernia repair with the use of a fully absorbable mesh aiming to take mesh inguinal hernia repair one step forward. The purpose of the present study was to assess the long-term results of the proposed technique.

Methods

Patients that were included in our previous report were followed up at 3 years after the initial operation.

Results

Ten patients underwent open inguinal hernia repair with the use of an absorbable polyglycolic acid/trimethylene carbonate mesh. 3 years after the procedure, from the total of ten patients, two were lost to follow-up (20 %). Three patients (37.5 %), one with direct and two with indirect hernia, were diagnosed clinically with a recurrence at the follow-up of 3 years. Recurrences were developed nearly 2 years—median 24 months (range 18–30)—after the initial operation. Among patients without recurrence none complained about chronic pain, foreign body sensation or numbness. On the other hand, chronic pain was a constant complain in the recurrence patient group.

Conclusions

The results of the 3-year follow-up in the given patient sample alleviate the initial enthusiasm regarding the use of an absorbable mesh for inguinal hernia repair as an attractive alternative and causes skepticism about the generalized use of the procedure in its certain form.     

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of radiology in the diagnosis of occult inguinal hernia

Background

Inguinal hernias are a common cause of groin pain. Most hernias are detectable by clinical examination and many patients proceed to hernia repair on the basis of history and examination findings alone. However, a significant proportion of patients with symptoms suggestive of groin hernia are found to have a normal clinical examination. Several radiological techniques have been developed to solve the dilemma posed by occult inguinal hernias. No systematic review or meta-analysis has addressed this common clinical problem.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken of relevant articles in Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane database. Studies were assessed using the QUADAS tool. Statistical analysis was undertaken.

Results

We have shown in this meta-analysis that ultrasound has a sensitivity of 86 % and a specificity of 77 % in occult inguinal hernias. Computed tomography has a sensitivity of 80 % and a specificity of 65 %. Herniography has a sensitivity of 91 % and a specificity of 83 %.

Conclusions

Based on this systematic review, herniography should be considered as the initial investigation for occult inguinal hernia where available. In centers where this is not available, ultrasound of the groin should be used with good clinical judgment. When there is still diagnostic uncertainty, further investigation with magnetic resonance imaging should be considered to exclude alternative pathology.