title: Standard polypropylene mesh vs lightweight mesh for Lichtenstein repair of primary inguinal hernia: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present clinical study was to compare early and late outcomes after inguinal hernia repair with the heavyweight mesh (HW) and lightweight mesh (LW) during a 3 year follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  226 patients were randomized into LW and HW mesh groups, both of which underwent unilateral primary inguinal hernia repair via the Lichtenstein technique. Wound complications (infection, hematoma, seroma), hernia recurrence, pain and feeling of foreign body in inguinal area were determined in patients. Pain was measured by visual analogue scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistical difference has been found between LW and HW groups by wound complication (P = 0.80). One case of hernia recurrence has been mentioned in both groups one year after hernioplasty. But there was no detectable difference between the two groups. No significant difference has been found between LW and HW groups by frequency of chronic pain 7 days, 1 and 3 months, 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery. As for the feeling of foreign body in groin it is similar in both groups after 1 and 3 months. Level of feeling of foreign body was significantly lower in LW group 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery, than in HW group (P = 0.03, P = 0.02, P = 0.02, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our research shows no significant difference in wound complications, hernia recurrence and chronic pain after Lichtenstein hernioplasty, by using of LW and HW meshes. The usage of the LW mesh was associated with less feeling of foreign body than that of the HW mesh, what can be considered as prevalence of LW mesh hernioplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery of Tbilisi State Medical University, 33, Vazha-Pshavela ave., 0177 Tbilisi, Georgia; Department of General Surgery of Kipshidze Central University Hospital, 29, Vazha-Pshavela ave., 0160 Tbilisi, Georgia. Electronic address: zdemetr@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zaza
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Demetrashvili
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery of Kipshidze Central University Hospital, 29, Vazha-Pshavela ave., 0160 Tbilisi, Georgia. Electronic address: kkhutsishvili1972@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kakhi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khutsishvili
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery of Kipshidze Central University Hospital, 29, Vazha-Pshavela ave., 0160 Tbilisi, Georgia. Electronic address: iraklipipia@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Irakli
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pipia
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery of Kipshidze Central University Hospital, 29, Vazha-Pshavela ave., 0160 Tbilisi, Georgia. Electronic address: gugken@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Giorgi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kenchadze
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry of Tbilisi State Medical University, 33, Vazha-Pshavela ave., 0177 Tbilisi, Georgia. Electronic address: ekaekaladze@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Eka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ekaladze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000209:etiology; D006119:Groin; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012008:Recurrence; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes
keywords: Heavyweight mesh; Inguinal hernia; Lichtenstein; Lightweight mesh