title: Lichtenstein tension-free repair of inguinal hernia.
abstract: Recurrences have been a significant problem following hernia repair. The purpose of this study was to present our experience of Lichtenstein tension-free repair of inguinal hernia. In this retrospective study, 223 inguinal hernia repairs were performed between September 2000 and August 2003 in 203 patients, using a polypropylene mesh. The main outcome measure was early and late complications and especially recurrences. There were 189 males (93.1%) and 14 females (6.9%). Inguinal hernia was indirect in 70% of cases (n=156), direct in 25% (n=56), and of the mixed type in 5% (n=11). Bilateral inguinal hernia was found in 20 patients (9.8%). 210 (94.2%) of hernias were de novo, while 13 (5.8%) were recurrences. The mean patients age was 54.3 years (range, 32-71 years). The follow-up was completed in 160 patients (78.8%) by clinical examination. The median follow-up period was 3.0 years (range, 1-5 years). Seroma and postoperative neuralgia were observed in one and 5 patients respectively. There was only one recurrence (0.4%) four years later. Lichtenstein tension-free mesh repair of inguinal hernia is a simple and safe method, with no significant early and late morbidity and achieved a method with no recurrence during the follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery and Oncology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, UK. drsgourgiotis@tiscali.co.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gourgiotis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Germanos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stratopoulos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moustafellos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panteli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hadjiyannakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes