O41 PREDICTORS OF LOW QUALITY AFTER OPEN INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR USING THE EURAHS-QOL SCORE: PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTRIC COHORT STUDY

Aim Evidence about factors influencing quality of life after inguinal hernia surgery is scarce. This study aimed to identify predictors of low Quality of Life (QoL) after open inguinal hernia repair, to guide practice and inform patients at high risk. Material and Methods Prospective multicentric cohort study including consecutive patients undergoing elective open inguinal hernia repair in Portuguese hospitals (October-December 2019). The primary outcome was Quality of Life at 3 months after surgery, using the EuraHS-QoL score (higher score correlates with lower QoL). Low QoL was defined as the higher EuraHS-QoL score tertile and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors. Results 893 patients were included from 33 hospitals. The majority were men (89.9% [800/891]), had unilateral hernias 88.7% (774/872) and the most common surgical technique was Lichtenstein’s repair (52.9% [472/893]). The median QoL score was 24 (IQR 10-40) before surgery and 2 (IQR 0-10) at 3 months after surgery, showing significant improvement (p < 0.001). After adjustment, low QoL at 3 months was associated with low preoperative QoL (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.21-2.57, p = 0.003), non-absorbable mesh fixation (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.12-2.41, p = 0.011), severe immediate postoperative pain (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.66-5.11, p < 0.001) and minor postoperative complications (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.30-3.84, p = 0.004). Conclusions This study supports the use of the EuraHS-QoL score preoperatively to inform consent. Although significant improvement in QoL is expected after surgery, high scores before surgery are associated with low postoperative QoL. Caution should be taken with non-absorbable mesh fixation and immediate postoperative pain control should be optimised.

P080 ROUTINE ELECTIVE ILIOHYPOGASTRIC NEURECTOMY IN LICHTENSTEIN INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR

Aim Chronic postherniorraphy pain occurs in 8-25% of patients undergoing groin hernioplasty with mesh insertion. The most common cause for inguinodynia is neuropathy resulting from nerve damage or entrapment during mesh fixation. With wide mesh insertion there is often a conflict between upper prosthesis margin and an iliohypogastric nerve. The aim of this study is to present a routine elective iliohypogastric neurectomy in Lichtenstein groin hernia repair for prevention of chronic inguinodynia. Material and Methods Between 2018 and 2020, 398 patients were admitted for open inguinal hernia repair. 218 patients underwent a Lichtenstein repair with transection of iliohypogastric nerve before implantation of 10x14 polypropylene mesh (IH group). In the control group of 180 patients all nerves were spared (C group). Follow-up was conducted on 1 POD,1 month, and 1 year after surgery. Results 1 month after a surgery a pain was reported in 24 (11%) patients in IH group (2.9% severe; 8.1% moderate; 89% no pain), and 48 (26.7%) patients in C group (3.9% severe; 22.8% moderate; 73.3% no pain). 1 year after a surgery a persistent pain was reported in 1 (0.4%) patient in IH group, and in 5 (2.8%) patients in C group. An incidence of inguinodynia was significantly lower after iliohypogastric neurectomy (0.5% vs. 2.8%; p < 0.001). Conclusions Routine neurectomy of iliohypogastric nerve appears to be an effective technique in chronic inguinodynia after open mech repair for inguinal hernias. Iliohypogastric nerve resection allows to place a flat synthetic mesh with wide coverage of myopectineal orifice with no need for additional mesh trimming.

O49 COMPARING OUTCOMES BETWEEN MINIMALLY INVASIVE AND OPEN INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR

Aim Prospective evaluation comparing outcomes between laparoscopic (LIHR), robotic (RIHR), and open inguinal hernia repair (OIHR). Material and Methods Prospective institutional data comparison of patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair from 1999–2020 was performed. Patients with chronic pain or infection were excluded. Standard statistical methods were used and univariate analysis was performed between LIHR, RIHR, and OIHR groups. Results 3,300 repairs were performed: 1,970 LIHR (597-bilateral), 127 RIHR (25-bilateral), and 538 OIHR (43-bilateral). LIHR and RIHR patients were younger (55.4±14.8vs59.0±13.7vs 65.0±13.7years;p<0.01), with lower BMI (26.6±6.5vs28.9±20.3vs31.8±7.6kg/m2; p<0.01), fewer overall (2.7±1.9 vs 2.7±2.2vs3.7±2.5; p < 0.01) and cardiac (0.2% vs 0% vs 2.6%; p<0.01) comorbidities, and fewer patients had diabetes (5.2%vs4.6%vs10.9%; p<0.01). OIHR had the highest rate of recurrent hernias (21.2%vs11.2%vs30.9%; p<0.01). History of smoking was less in LIHR (13.9%vs30.9%vs19.5%%; p<0.01). Mesh was used in 99.5% of cases; synthetic was used in all minimally invasive cases and 98.4% of OIHR, with biologic mesh in 1.0% of OIHR due to bowel resection during the operation. Operative time was shortest in LIHR followed by open (86.5±39.6vs109.0±56.8vs92.6±55.2 min; p<0.01). Wound complications were more frequent in OIHR (0.8%vs0.7%vs3.8%; p<0.01). Admission was more common after open repair (2.2%vs2.7%vs5.7%; p<0.01) with a trend to less readmission following LIHR (1.0%vs2.0%vs2.3%; p=0.06). There were few recurrences overall (0.7%vs0.7%vs1.3%; p=0.40) with mean follow-up time 21.1±22.4 months. Conclusions LIHR, RIHR, and OIHR were performed with low overall morbidity and complications. Recurrent hernias and cardiac patients were most often repaired open, which more frequent admission and had higher wound morbidity. RIHR had longer OR times with no improvement overall outcomes.

Prospective study to evaluate the value of Identification of nerves crossing inguinal canal during inguinal mesh hernioplasty

Background Long-term morbidity associated with open inguinal hernia repair mainly consists of postoperative chronic pain. The mechanism responsible for the development of this postoperative pain is thought to be the entrapment, inflammation, and fibrotic reactions of the nerve around the mesh. Aim of the Work To analyse and provide comprehensive data on their incidence (identification rates), anatomical characteristics, and possible sources of heterogenecity, to decrease the risk of iatrogenic injury/ entrapment to these nerves during inguinal hernioplasty. Patients and Methods This study identified 40 patients who underwent inguinal hernia repairs with either routine repair or nerve identification and preservation. As several studies point out, a nerve-recognizing procedure is a logical step for minimizing postoperative groin pain. Such an approach can be advocated for two reasons: identification of the nerves for preservation or for performing standard neurectomy in case of interference with the position of the mesh. Results In the present study, there was no difference in pain scorings at one or 3-months after repair between different surgical techniques in patients undergoing open repair of a primary inguinal hernia. In present work, in addition to identifying and preserving all neural structures, specific maneuvers have been adopted for preventing postherniorrhaphy inguinodynia Conclusion The results indicated that routine nerve identification and preservation was associated with a significantly lower incidence of postoperative neuralgia compared with no nerve identification.

864 Adherence to British Hernia Society Standards in Consenting Practice for Inguinal Hernia Repair

Objectives Evaluation of adherence to BHS Standards in IHRs Consent. Primary goal was the documentation of “Mesh” on clinic letter and consent form. Secondary points were the enlisted postoperative complications and advice given to reduce the risk of complications. Introduction Mesh repair is the gold standard for elective inguinal hernias. Recurrence rate is 1-3%. Chronic pain, for different causes, is documented in 10-15% (Most frequent complication). Method Retrospective study looked at first 100 patients, who were subjected to open inguinal hernia repair, in one year time. Patients under 18 years, history of previous repair and laparoscopic repair were excluded. The sample was reduced to 94, as 6 cases had untraceable and insufficient records Results Despite using mesh in all patients, it was not written in 11.7% of the consent forms and half of the clinic letters. Postoperative readmissions were 6.4% ,8.5% and 1.1% at week, month and year, respectively. The main causes were pain (1%), wound dehiscence (1%), hematoma (2%), and recurrence (1%). Overall complications rate after one year was 5.5%. Although recurrence and chronic pain are linked to hernia repair, they were not mentioned in 10% and 15%. In contrast, non-specific complications were documented in > 90%. Damage to cord structures and post-operative advice were found in 60% and 30%. Conclusions All grades surgeons were not adequately adherent to BHS, exposing the firm to negligence and complains. Preprepared forms and leaflets are advised to improve the quality of service, in respect to the GMC Domains.