The open tension-free mesh repair of inguinal hernia Analysis of 1,235 cases

Summary 1235 outpatient repairs of inguinal hernias under local anesthesia with IV sedation were performed between September 1993 and June 1997. The average age was 63. Twelve percent were recurrent repairs. All indirect hernias and all focal diverticular type V direct defects were treated with a cone-shaped polypropylene plug plus an overlay mesh strip. All broad fusiform type IV direct defects were repaired either by the same plug method or in the manner of a Lichtenstein repair. Mortality was zero. There were 3 recurrences, 5 superficial hematomas, 5 seromas, 1 questionable neuralgia, 1 dysejaculation, 1 ischemie orchitis, 1 flare-up of gout and 1 TIA, for a complication rate of 1.46%. Infection rate was zero. Recurrence rate thus far is only 0.24%, 0.16% for primary repair and 0.67% for recurrent repair.