title: Open Mesh Repair for Inguinal Hernia is Safer than Laparoscopic Repair or Open Non-mesh Repair: A Nationwide Registry Study of Complications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inguinal hernia repair is the most common elective procedure in general surgery. Therefore, the number of patients having complications related to inguinal hernia surgery is relatively large. The aim of this study was to compare complication profiles of inguinal open mesh (OM) hernioplasties with open non-mesh (OS) repairs and laparoscopic (LAP) repairs using retrospective nationwide registry data.
  
  
  METHODS
  The database of the Finnish Patient Insurance Centre (FPIC) was searched for complications of inguinal and femoral hernia repairs during 2002-2010. Complications of OM repairs were compared to complications of OS repairs and LAP repairs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 75 % of all inguinal hernia procedures during the study period in Finland were OM hernioplasties. FPIC received 245 complication reports after OM repairs, 40 after OS repairs, and 50 after LAP repairs. Reported complications were significantly more severe after LAP and OS repairs than OM surgery (p<0.001). Visceral complications (p<0.001), deep infections (p<0.001), and deep hemorrhagic complications (p<0.001) were overrepresented in the LAP group. In the OS group, visceral complications (p<0.001), recurrences (p<0.001), and severe neuropathic pain (p<0.001) predominated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LAP and OS repairs of inguinal hernia were associated with more severe complications than open surgery with mesh in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu, Finland, sanna.kouhia@fimnet.fi.
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kouhia
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vironen
authors.forename: Tapio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hakala
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Paajanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006550:Hernia, Femoral / Q000601:surgery*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D055815:Young Adult