COMPARATIVE STUDY OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN BETWEEN THE LICHTENSTEIN AND LAPAROSCOPY SURGICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE TREATMENT OF UNILATERAL PRIMARY INGUINAL HERNIA.

BACKGROUND: There are several surgical treatment options for inguinal hernia; however, there is no consensus on the literature identifying which surgical technique promotes less postoperative pain. AIM: To compare the intensity of postoperative pain between the surgical techniques Lichtenstein and transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy for the treatment of unilateral primary inguinal hernia. METHODS: Were included 60 patients, of which 30 were operated through the Lichtenstein technique and 30 patients through the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy. The pain levels were evaluated through the analogue visual scale for 2, 10 and 30 days after the surgery. Additionally, the recurrence rate and the presence of chronic pain and paresthesia were evaluated 12 months after the surgery. RESULTS: Overall, the data analysis showed significant differences on pain levels between the surgical techniques. There were no significant differences between the pain levels for day 2. However, for 10 and 30 days after the surgery, the pain levels were significantly lower for the patients operated through the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy technique compared to the Lichtenstein technique. Furthermore, despite no recurrent hernias for both surgical techniques, 32 % of patients operated through the Lichtenstein technique reported chronic pain and paresthesia 12 months after the surgery, compared with 3,6% of patients operated through the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy technique. CONCLUSION: There are differences between the surgical techniques, with the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy procedure promoting significantly lower postoperative pain (10 and 30 days) and chronic pain (12 months) compared to the Lichtenstein procedure.

Comparative study of postoperative pain between the lichtenstein and laparoscopy surgical techniques for the treatment of unilateral primary inguinal hernia / Estudo comparativo da dor pós-operatória entre as técnicas cirúrgicas lichtenstein e laparoscópica no tratamento da hérnia inguinal unilateral não recidivada

ABSTRACT Background: There are several surgical treatment options for inguinal hernia; however, there is no consensus on the literature identifying which surgical technique promotes less postoperative pain. Aim: To compare the intensity of postoperative pain between the surgical techniques Lichtenstein and transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy for the treatment of unilateral primary inguinal hernia. Methods: Were included 60 patients, of which 30 were operated through the Lichtenstein technique and 30 patients through the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy. The pain levels were evaluated through the analogue visual scale for 2, 10 and 30 days after the surgery. Additionally, the recurrence rate and the presence of chronic pain and paresthesia were evaluated 12 months after the surgery. Results: Overall, the data analysis showed significant differences on pain levels between the surgical techniques. There were no significant differences between the pain levels for day 2. However, for 10 and 30 days after the surgery, the pain levels were significantly lower for the patients operated through the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy technique compared to the Lichtenstein technique. Furthermore, despite no recurrent hernias for both surgical techniques, 32 % of patients operated through the Lichtenstein technique reported chronic pain and paresthesia 12 months after the surgery, compared with 3,6% of patients operated through the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy technique. Conclusion: There are differences between the surgical techniques, with the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy procedure promoting significantly lower postoperative pain (10 and 30 days) and chronic pain (12 months) compared to the Lichtenstein procedure.

RESUMO Racional: Existem diversas opções de tratamentos cirúrgicos para hernia inguinal; entretanto, não existe consenso na literatura sobre qual técnica cirúrgica promove menor dor pós-operatória. Objetivo: Comparar a intensidade de dor pós-operatória entre as técnicas cirúrgicas de Lichtenstein e a laparoscópica pré-peritoneal transabdominal no tratamento da hérnia inguinal unilateral não-recidivada. Métodos: Foram incluídos 60 pacientes, dos quais 30 foram operados pela técnica de Lichtenstein e 30 pela laparoscópica pré-peritoneal transabdominal. A intensidade da dor foi avaliada por meio da escala visual analógica nos dias 2, 10 e 30 de pós-operatório. A taxa de recidiva, a presença de dor crônica e parestesia local foram avaliadas com 12 meses de pós-operatório. Resultados: A análise dos dados demonstrou que existem diferenças significantes nos níveis de dor entre as técnicas cirúrgicas. Não houve diferença entre o nível de dor com dois dias. Entretanto, com 10 e 30 dias, o nível de dor foi significativamente menor para os operados pela técnica laparoscópica pré-peritoneal transabdominal, comparado à de Lichtenstein. Além disso, apesar de não haver casos de reincidência para ambas as técnicas, 32% dos pacientes operados por Lichtenstein relataram dor crônica e parestesia local 12 meses depois da operação, comparado a 3,6% da técnica laparoscópica pré-peritoneal transabdominal. Conclusão: Há diferenças entre as técnicas cirúrgicas, com o procedimento laparoscópico pré-peritoneal transabdominal promovendo níveis de dor pós-operatória (10 e 30 dias) e dor crônica (12 meses) significativamente menores, quando comparado ao procedimento Lichtenstein.

[Prevention of median incisional hernia in rats by ultrasonic therapy]. / Efeito do ultra-som na prevenção da hérnia incisional mediana no rato.

PURPOSE: To investigate if ultrasonic therapy is effective in avoidance of incisional hernia (IH), once the ideal technique for repair of IH is still a non-solved problem, in despite of prostheses usage. METHODS: IH was created by linea alba opening over 20 male Wistar rats, distributed in two groups: one group received the ultrasound, over the wound, during 14 days (5 animals) and the other for 28 days (5 animals), each one with the same number of animals as controls. The ultrasound was applied using a small probe, 1:5 pulse mode, 3.0 MHz frequency and 0.5W/cm2 intensity, for 5 minutes daily, from the first postoperative day. The width of the linea alba scar or the hernia ring was measured at the end of every period. The IH was defined when these openings were over 2mm wide. Some specimens from hernia sac or linea alba scar were obtained for vessels, fibroblasts, and colagen fibers density. Standard deviation and medians were obtained by variation analysis and Tukey-Kramer multi-comparison test. RESULTS: The ultrasound group showed a linea alba scar in 60%. The other 40% presented the hernia ring smaller than the non treated group (p < 0.0001). The ultrasound increased density of blood vessels (p = 0.0031), fibroblasts (p < 0.0001), and collagen fibers (p = 0.0015). There was no difference between the two treated groups. CONCLUSION: The ultrasound avoided the IH to appear or reduced its width. Fourteen days of treatment were sufficient for this purpose.