Abstract
Aim
Study of postoperative outcomes after Liechtenstein inguinal hernia repair using self-gripping mesh and polypropylene mesh with suture fixation.
Material and Methods
Medical records of 289 open inguinal hernia repairs were analyzed: 176 – with sutured polypropylene mesh and 113 – using self-gripping mesh. To assess the quality of life we have used EuraHS Qol and SF-36. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.
Results
There were no significant differences in wound complications (such as swelling, seroma, hematoma, orchitis) between these groups (p > 0,05). The duration of operation was significantly shorter with self-gripping mesh compared to sutured mesh (42,2 min. sd = 23,42 vs 58,5 min. sd = 16,70; p < 0.001). Pain on the first and 6th days after implantation self-gripping mesh was present significantly less frequently in comparison with sutured mesh (χ2 (1, N = 289) =7.925, p = 0.005 and χ2 (1, N = 289) =24.740, p < 0.001). NSAIDs intake time was less in self-gripping mesh group (3.01±1,07 vs 4.43±1,75 days; U = 11723, p < 0.001). We have found no significant differences in both groups for all quality-of-life indicators EuraHS (p = 0.234) and SF-36 (p = 0.190).
Conclusions
Self-gripping mesh has comparable outcomes with sutured polypropylene mesh regarding the frequency of wound complications and quality of life on long-term follow-up. However, self-gripping mesh is associated with reduced operation time, pain in the short-term postoperative period, and taking NSAIDs compared to sutured mesh.