The Effect of Mesh Fixation Methods on Pain Sensation After Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair

Abstract

Aim: Groin hernia repair is one of the most common surgical procedure in general surgery. The use of prosthetic meshs has reduced the recurrence rate after inguinal hernia repair to less than 5%. Chronic pain is thought to be multi-factorial. Among these, surgical-related factors are the types of mesh used and fixation methods. It was aimed to evaluate the effect of the use of absorbable and non-absorbable screws for mesh fixation on post-operative pain during TEP repair. Material and Methods: The data of patients who were operated on by a single surgeon and who underwent TEP repair for unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia were reviewed retrospectively. Post-operative first-week pain sensations were compared between patient groups in which absorbable and non-absorbable screws were used for patch fixation. Results: A total of 35 patients who were operated by a single surgeon and who underwent laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) repair for unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia were included in the study. It was found that patients in the absorbable screw group felt statistically significantly less pain [VAS: 3 (2-7) vs. 4 (2-8); p=0.03]. Conclusion: Chronic pain after patchy hernia repair is also seen as a late complication that can last up to 6 months. This study, which proves that the use of absorbable stabilizers leads to less pain in the early period, reveals that this method may also be a suitable method for preventing the development of possible chronic pain.