A comparative study between light and heavy polypropylene mesh in lichtenstein repair of inguinal hernia

Abstract

Background: Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in practice. Although numerous techniques have been described, currently tension free mesh repair is the standard of care in the treatment of hernias because of the low recurrence rates.Methods: A comparative study between Light and Heavy Polypropylene mesh in Lichtenstein repair of inguinal hernia was conducted at Department of General Surgery in MVJ Medical college and Research Hospital, Hoskote, Bangalore on patients admitted in Department of General Surgery between November 2014 to July 2016 undergoing Lichtenstein tension free mesh repair for inguinal hernia. The study is a prospective study. 30 Patients were in Light mesh group and 30 were in Heavy mesh group.Results: Age group of 31-40 yrs had highest incidence of inguinal hernia. Males outnumber Females in incidence of Inguinal Hernia. Foreign body sensation in Heavy mesh group is significantly high. Average of 26.7% of the patients had foreign body sensation in Heavy mesh group. Whereas in Light group average was 10%. Chronic pain also showed significant readings in Heavy mesh group. Stiffness over abdominal wall was complained by 10% of patients overall in the light mesh group whereas no patients had this complaint in light mesh group. Recurrence was high in light mesh group where total of 5 patients had recurrence and in heavy there were only 2 patients with recurrence.Conclusions: In my study light mesh has been proved to be better than heavy mesh in treatment of inguinal hernia.