ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Inguinal herniorrhaphy remains one of the most common general surgical operations. Mesh repair is advocated by several specialized hernia centers. The purpose of this study was to compare results of mesh and Shouldice repair for inguinal herniae. METHODS: A clinical review was made of 73 cases of inguinal herniae treated during the 3 years from January 1993 to December 1996 at the Department of Surgery, Dae Rim Saint Mary's Hospital, and at the Department of Surgery, Eum Sung Saint Mary's Hospital. We treated 38 patients with mesh repair and 35 patients with a Shouldice procedure. Among 73 cases, 72 cases were males and only one case was a female. All except 8 cases had indirect types of hernias. RESULTS: Mesh repair required less time (80 minutes) and was an easier operative technique than the Shouldice procedure (95 minutes), but postoperative pain was similar between the two procedures. Postoperative pain was relieved after one week in 60% of the patients and after four weeks in 88% of the patients. The complications following the operations were similar between the two procedures: voiding difficulties developed in two cases, wound infection in one case, and a hematoma in two cases. There were no recurrences during the 6 month to 3 year follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Inguinal herniorrhaphy using a mesh repair technique provides is simple, rapid, less painful, and effective.