ABSTRACT
To compare outcomes of light and heavy weight mesh for repair of inguinal hernia. This study was conducted at the Department of Surgery; Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008. Patients were divided into two groups based on the type of mesh implanted for inguinal hernia repair. Group 1 included patients in whom light weight composite [VyproII] mesh is implanted: Group 2 included patients in whom polypropylene [Prolene] mesh is implanted. Data concerning the complications and post operative pain in the perioperative and postoperative period were collected and analyzed. Categorical data were presented as percentages with 95% confidence intervals and compared using a x[2] test and P < 0.05 were considered significant. Following allocation and exclusion of violating cases, 111 patients in group 1 and 138 patients in group 2 were analyzed. The mean age in group 1 was 38.20 +/- 13.34 years and in group 2 was 39.55 +/- 13.70 [P = 0.434]. In group 1, hematoma formation was observed in four cases [3.6%] while it was observed in six cases [4.2%] in group 2 [P = 0.766]. During the entire study, ten patients in all developed urinary retention, three of which required transient catheterization. One year post operation, there was a recurrence in only five cases overall, while only two patients complained of pain [P = 0.826]. The frequency of postoperative pain and complications in patients was similar in both groups