An institutional comparative study of self-gripping progrip mesh with prolene mesh in repair of inguinal hernia: a single center study

Abstract

Background: The type of inguinal hernia repair used depends on many factors predominantly surgeon's training, interpretation of the literature and personal preference. This prospective cohort study describes a consecutive series of open mesh inguinal hernia repairs (modified Lichtenstein technique) performed in this hospital with two different mesh types. Methods: Analysis was undertaken on 60 consecutive patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair during last one year. Short-term outcomes were compared between those repaired with conventional polypropylene mesh and those with Covidien Progrip mesh. Results: All patients were male, and the mean age was 60 years. The median operative time was 60 minutes for unilateral hernias and 90 minutes for bilateral hernias. The use of Covidien Progrip mesh reduced the operative time to 40 minutes for unilateral hernias and 60 minutes for bilateral hernias. After unilateral hernia repair, 10% of the patients repaired with Progrip mesh were discharged home within 1 day of operation. Almost 99% of Progrip repair cases were discharged within 48 hrs. Twenty-four hours postoperatively, 74% of the patients were either totally pain free or had minimal discomfort. At 4weeks, 99%of the patients were either pain free or had minimal discomfort. Patients who underwent unilateral inguinal hernia repair with progrip mesh had the most rapid return to normal activities. All these parameters are slight longer in polypropylene mesh repair cases. Conclusions: Open anterior mesh repair is safe and results in minimal postoperative pain and early return to normal activities. Progrip mesh resulted in a shorter operative time and more rapid return to normal activities and decrease in long term postoperative pain compared with polypropylene mesh.