title: Open inguinal hernia repair with the use of a polyglycolic acid-trimethylene carbonate absorbable mesh: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tension-free repair with mesh placement has become the gold standard for open inguinal hernia surgery. Traditionally, non absorbable materials have been used for mesh manufacture. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of using a totally absorbable prosthetic mesh for open inguinal hernia repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with elective inguinal hernias were set to undergo open tension-free inguinal hernia repair with the use of polyglycolic acid-trimethylene carbonate absorbable mesh. In this pilot study, we looked primarily at recurrence and chronic pain assessed 1 year after the operation, while immediate postoperative complications were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were discharged from the hospital the day after surgery. In three patients (30%), a Foley catheter was inserted to relieve symptoms of urinary retention. None of the patients had any immediate postoperative complication. At the 1st year follow up, none of the patients had clinical signs of recurrence. However, one patient experienced intermittent pain in the operated inguinal area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open inguinal hernia repair with the use of polyglycolic acid-trimethylene absorbable mesh proved efficient in the given patient sample. Further studies with a larger number of patients and longer follow up are needed in order to confirm the possible favourable effects of this mesh type.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Mezourlo, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Efthimiou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Symeonidis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koukoulis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tepetes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zacharoulis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzovaras
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004146:Dioxanes; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D012008:Recurrence; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004146:Dioxanes; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; C443643:trimethylene carbonate