Open lichtenstein repair versus laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair for inguinal hernia

ABSTRACT

To compare open Lichtenstein with laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal [TAPP] inguinal hernia repair. Randomized controlled trial. Surgical Ward Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Karachi, from October 2012 to March 2013. This study was carried out on eighty patients, divided into 2 equal groups of 40 patients each. Group I, was offered Lichtenstein hernia repair and in group II, laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal approach was performed. Mean operative time, duration of hospital stay, pain score and infection rate were compared between two groups. All the patients included in this study were males. The mean age of the patients was 44.9 +/- 18.02 year in group I and 38.9 +/- 18.21 year in group II. Operative time and hospital stay were statistically insignificant but pain and wound infection had significant differences. The mean VAS score was found higher in group I than group II [p value 0.0048]. It was 6 +/- 1.89 in group I and 3.6 +/- 1.35 in group II. There were three cases [7.5%] of wound infection in group I whereas in group II there were no case of wound infection [p=0.0405]. The laparoscopic hernia repair is a preferable procedure. It has less postoperative pain and less wound infection