Chronic pain, discomfort, quality of life and impact on sex life after open inguinal hernia mesh repair : an expertise-based randomized clinical trial comparing lightweight and heavyweight mesh

• PURPOSE: There is a paucity of high-quality evidence concerning mesh choice in open inguinal hernia repair. Using an expertise-based randomized clinical trial design, we aimed to evaluate the postoperative impact of two different mesh types on pain and discomfort, quality of life and sex life.METHODS: , ULTRAPRO™, Ethicon). Follow-up data were collected by questionnaires and outpatient visits in the range of 1-3 years after surgery.RESULTS: Some 412 patients were randomized and 363 patients were analysed. There was no difference in pain between groups after surgery but a statistically significant difference concerning awareness of a groin lump and groin discomfort, favouring the lightweight group 1 year after surgery. No differences in quality of life between groups could be detected but both groups had a substantially better quality of life postoperatively, as compared to before surgery. In the analysis of impact on sex life, no differences between mesh groups were found.CONCLUSION: The Lichtenstein operation performed for primary inguinal hernia improves quality of life for most of the male patients, independently of the type of mesh used. The lightweight mesh group experienced less awareness of a groin lump and groin discomfort 1 year postoperatively. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00451893.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Groin hernia repair

Lichtenstein operation

Patient-reported outcome measures

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)