Comparison between modern mesh and conventional non-mesh methods of inguinal hernia repair.
BACKGROUND
The objectives of the study were to compare the tension-free mesh repair with non-meash conventional repair of groin hernia.


METHODS
In the past two years in 299 consecutive unselected patients 339 inguinal hernia repairs were carried out. They randomly allocated to undergo either a non-meash modified Bassini's repair (n=164) or a tension-free mesh repair (n=175). The latter group consisted of laparoscopic TAPP repair (n=46) and open onlay patch repair (n=64) or plug and patch repair (n=65). Operation time, postoperative pain and complications, hospital stay, return to work and recurrence were assessed. Statistical analysis was made using the "t"-Student test.


RESULTS
The characteristics of the patients in each group and the operation time did not differ significantly. The planned procedure was completed in all and no death occurred. The analgesic requirements (none 2.5 vs 56.4%, opiods 77 vs 23.6%), complication rate (9.4 vs 4.3%), hospital stay (4.2 vs 1.8 days), return to work (17.2 vs 7.3 days) and recurrence rate (5.5 vs 1.2%) in non-mesh group were more than in the mesh group. All differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). Among the three subgroups of mesh group no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were found.


CONCLUSIONS
The tension-free mesh repair either open or laparoscopic provides excellent results with better short-term outcome and lower recurrence rate than non-mesh modified Bassini's repair.
Pavlidis
T E
TE
Medical Faculty of the Aristotles, University of Thessaloniki, Second Surgical Department, G. Gennimatas Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Atmatzidis
K S
KS
Lazaridis
C N
CN
Papaziogas
B T
BT
Makris
J G
JG
Papaziogas
T B
TB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013997:Time Factors