title: Quality of life analysis after open and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair--retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An inguinal hernia is a usual medical problem. The golden standard for its treatment is Lichtenstein's repair. But, there are still some dilemmas about inguinal hernia repair technique, including the role of laparoscopy. The aim of this study is to analyze patient's quality of life after Lichtenstein's or laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of medical documentation of 216 operated patients during the year 2006 at the Department of digestive surgery, University hospital Split, Croatia using tension free mesh repair procedures: Lichtenstein or laparoscopy (TAPP). Among the other data, the analysis includes use of antibiotic prophylaxis and thrombosis prophylaxis. The quality of life analysis was performed using the Short form 36 questionnaire (SF-36).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We operated 212 (98.15%) males and 4 (1.85%) females. The average age of operated patients was 60.15 +/- 13.98 years. The antibiotic prophylaxis was prescribed to 22 (10.19%) patients with some of risk factors for wound infection. We did not register any secondary wound infection. Thrombosis prophylaxis was prescribed to all patients and there were no complications. The quality of life analysis showed no statistically significant differences between Lichtenstein and laparoscopic procedure with slightly better results for laparoscopic procedure in some of the SF-36's domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are no differences in quality of life between the patients operated with Lichtenstein or laparoscopic procedure. Despite that, we believe that laparoscopy has its place for inguinal hernia repair especially for recurrent and bilateral hernias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Split and Split University School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Srsen
authors.forename: Nikica
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Druzijanić
authors.forename: Zenon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pogorelić
authors.forename: Zdravko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Perko
authors.forename: Josko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juricić
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraljević
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krnić
authors.forename: Kanito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bilan
authors.forename: Zeljko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mimica
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013526:Surgical Mesh