title: Predicting chronic post-operative pain following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic post-operative pain (CPP) following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) may cause significant morbidity and be more problematic than recurrence. Determining pre-operative risk may reduce morbidity. Our aim was to determine prevalence of CPP following LIHR and identify risk factors for its development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from patients undergoing LIHR (1996-2004) at one District General Hospital were collected, including demographics, body mass index, pre-operative pain, LIHR type (TEP or TAPP, primary/recurrent, unilateral/bilateral) and post-operative complications including CPP (pain lasting > or = 1 year).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 881 patients underwent LIHR (1,029 hernias). Of these, 523 (60%) patients completed the questionnaire, and 72/523 (13.8%) patients experienced CPP. Presence of pre-operative pain (P < 0.001), recurrent LIHR (P = 0.021) and age < 50 years (P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with CPP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic post-operative pain following LIHR is more prevalent than recurrence. Pre-operative pain, surgery for recurrent inguinal hernias (following anterior repair) and younger age at surgery predict development of CPP. Identification of 'high-risk' patients may improve management, reducing morbidity and cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dewsbury and District Hospital, Halifax Road, Dewsbury, WF13 4HS, UK. kdickinson0@hotmail.com
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Fawole
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lyndon
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires