Bassini repair compared with laparoscopic repair for primary inguinal hernia: a randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of open and laparoscopic primary inguinal hernia repair.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
University hospital, The Netherlands.


METHODS
87 patients had 103 open repairs and 88 patients had 114 laparoscopic repairs between November 1993 and July 1995.


METHODS
Laparoscopic repair by the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) technique and open repair by the Bassini technique.


METHODS
Recurrence, morbidity, pain, and duration of convalescence.


RESULTS
Operating time was longer for laparoscopy (mean (SD): 82 (28) compared with 45 (15) minutes p < 0.001). Patients in the Bassini group had higher postoperative pain scores (mean (SD)VAS: 2.9 (1.6) compared with 2.0 (1.6) p=0.002), used more analgesics (median total intake: 2 (0-54) compared with 0 tablets (0-42) p=0.008), and needed a longer convalescence time (mean (SD) time to return to work: 22 (12.6) compared with 14 (10.1) days p < 0.001; mean (SD) time to return to physical activities: 27 (12.6) compared with 17 (12.2) days p < 0.001). Mean follow up was 24 months. Recurrence rates were 21% (22/ 103) after Bassini and 6% (7/114) after laparoscopic repair (p=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic hernia repair is a safe operation, which has obvious advantages over the Bassini repair in terms of pain, use of analgesic drugs, resumption of activities, and recurrence. A disadvantage of the laparoscopic repair is the longer operating time.
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
C D
CD
Dirksen
G L
GL
Beets
P M
PM
Go
F E
FE
Geisler
C G
CG
Baeten
G
G
Kootstra
D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003289:Convalescence; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
D000700:Analgesics