RESUMO
The aim of this study was to assess the operative methods used in our hospital to repair inguinal hernia. Between January 1993 and December 1995, 449 patients admitted for inguinal hernia repair were retrospectively analyzed. Four hundred and forty-five patients were males and four patients were females. Their median age was 37 +/- 14 and 41 +/- 5 years, respectively. Ninety-seven patients [21.6%] were nationals and the rest were expatriates. The commonest type of repair used in this group of patients was modified Bassini 330 [73.5%]; other procedures varied between 21 Darn repair [4.7%], 11 Shouldice [2.5%], 16 McVay [3.6%], 29 Lichtenstein [6.5%], 9 Iliopubic tract [2%], 20 Laparoscopic trans-abdominal preperitoneal repair [TAPP] [4.5%], and 13 Herniotomy [2.9%]. The mean follow-up of only 179 out of 449 patients was 17 months. Postoperative recurrence occurred in 8 patients following Bassini [3 patients], Darn [2 patients] and Laparoscopic repair [3 patients]. Two of them occurred in the immediate postoperative period following Laparoscopic and Shouldice repair. We think that controlled randomized studies are required to compare the conventional hernia repair to the more recent tension free mesh repair by laparoscopy or open surgery Furthermore, a better follow up of patients is required since the main criterion of success after hernia repair is recurrence. The concept of repair of inguinal hernia under local anaesthesia and as a day case must be stressed to reduce the cost and morbidity of general as well as regional anesthesia