Open repair of inguinal hernia: an evidence-based review

Long-term Follow-up of Patients With Hernia Using the Hernia-Specific Quality-of-Life Mobile App: Feasibility Questionnaire Study

BACKGROUND

Hernia repair is one of the most common surgical procedures; however, the long-term outcomes are seldom reported due to incomplete follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the use of a mobile app for the long-term follow-up of hernia recurrence, complication, and quality-of-life perception.

METHODS

A cloud-based corroborative system drove a mobile app with the HERQL (Hernia-Specific Quality-of-Life) questionnaire built in. Patients who underwent hernia repair were identified from medical records, and an invitation to participate in this study was sent through the post.

RESULTS

The response rate was 11.89% (311/2615) during the 1-year study period, whereas the recurrence rate was 1.0% (3/311). Causal relationships between symptomatic and functional domains of the HERQL questionnaire were indicated by satisfactory model fit indices and significant regression coefficients derived from structural equational modeling. Regarding patients' last hernia surgeries, 88.7% (276/311) of the patients reported them to be satisfactory or very satisfactory, 68.5% (213/311) of patients reported no discomfort, and 61.1% (190/311) of patients never experienced mesh foreign body sensation. Subgroup analysis for the most commonly used mesh repairs found that mesh plug repair inevitably resulted in worse symptoms and quality-of-life perception from the group with groin hernias.

CONCLUSIONS

The mobile app has the potential to enhance the quality of care for patients with hernia and facilitate outcomes research with more complete follow-up.

Inguinal Hernia Mesh Repair: The Factors to Consider When Deciding Between Open Versus Laparoscopic Repair

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide. An inguinal hernia occurs due to a defect in the abdominal wall, which allows the abdominal contents to pass through it. Although the placement of mesh over the defect is the gold standard to close the defect, there are various approaches to achieving it, out of which two of the most widely accepted techniques are laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) and open inguinal hernia repair (OIHR). However, the approach of choice widely fluctuates with regards to various factors such as patient history, type of hernias, and surgeons' preference. It is imperative to understand the variations in outcomes of different approaches and how best they fit an individual patient in deciding the technique to be undertaken. This article has reviewed many studies and compared the two techniques in terms of chronic pain, the time required to return to activity, rate of recurrence, and cost-effectiveness.

Laparoscopic-assisted transversus abdominis plane block as an effective analgesic in total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial

Purpose

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has facilitated early mobilization. Management of post-operative pain is paramount in these day case procedures. The aim of this study was to compare laparoscopic-assisted transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with periportal local anaesthetic infiltration in managing post-operative pain.

Methods

A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted with patients undergoing elective laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (January 2016–October 2017). The intervention group received laparoscopic-assisted TAP block with 30 ml 0.25% Bupivacaine. The control group received 15ml of 0.5% Bupivacaine at the periportal sites. Primary outcome measure was assessment of post-operative pain scores using numerical rating on visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest and on coughing at 3 h. Efficacy of TAP block was assessed as reduction in mean pain scores in the order of 2 points using the VAS.

Results

60 (57 males and 3 females) were enrolled; 30 patients were randomized to each group. Patient demographics, anaesthetic and surgical times were similar in both groups. Mean pain scores were significantly reduced in the intervention group at 3 (3.1 vs 1.1 p < 0.001) and 6 h (4.1 vs 1.7 p < 0.001) at rest and on coughing at 3 (4.8 vs 2.1 p < 0.001) and 6 h (5.4 vs 3.0 p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was higher (8.0 vs 6.8 p < 0.001) and rescue analgesic requirements (169.4vs 71.3 p < 0.001) lower in the intervention group.

Conclusions

This analysis has demonstrated the therapeutic benefit of laparoscopic-assisted TAP block in initial post-operative pain management for patients undergoing elective laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

Quality of life of inguinal hernia patients in Taiwan: The application of the hernia-specific quality of life assessment instrument

BACKGROUND

With the development of prosthetic mesh and tension free techniques, the recurrence rate following inguinal hernia repair has been reduced, and hernia outcomes research should focus on post-operative quality of life and potential complications.

STUDY DESIGN

A novel hernia quality of life assessment instrument, HERQL, was developed. The HERQL questionnaire comprises a 4-item summative pain score measuring pain and discomfort resulting from various strenuous activities. Symptomatic and functional domains, as well as post-operative satisfaction are evaluated as well.

RESULTS

A total of 386 HERQL surveys were completed by 183 patients with inguinal hernias. Internal consistency reliability of the summative pain score was satisfactory, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.85. Criterion validity was examined by concomitant assessment of the pain/discomfort and health impact subscales of the EQ-5D questionnaire, with substantial to moderate correlations. Pre-operative patients reported more severe hernia protrusion, more pain during mild to heavy exercise, and worse activity restriction and health impairment than the follow-up patients, indicating clinical validity. The conceptual structure of the HERQL demostrated the causal relationship between the formative symptomatic subscales and the reflective functional status indicators. Repeated measurement of the summative pain scores revealed an estimated time effect of -1.63, which was the rate of change in the summative pain score across the pre-operative, immediately post-operative, and follow-up 3-month periods suggesting the clinical responsiveness of the HERQL.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will facilitate inguinal hernia outcomes research and enhance the quality of care for this common disease by providing a validated HERQL instrument with enhanced sensitivity.

The Comparison of Lichtenstein Procedure with and without Mesh-Fixation for Inguinal Hernia Repair

Aim. Although inguinal hernia repair is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the world, the best repair method has not gained acceptance yet. The ideal repair must be safe, simple, and easy to perform and require minimal dissection which provides enough exploration, maintain patient's comfort in the early stage, and also be cost-effective, reducing operation costs, labor loss, hospital stay, and recurrence. Materials and Methods. There were eighty-five patients between the ages of 18 and 75, diagnosed with inguinal hernia in our clinic. Lichtenstein procedure for hernia repair was performed under spinal anesthesia in all patients. Forty-two patients had the standard procedure and, in 43 patients, the polypropylene mesh was used without fixation. All patients were examined and questioned on the 7th day of the operation in terms of pain, scrotal edema, and the presence of seroma and later on in the 6th postoperative month in terms of paresthesia, neuropraxia, and recurrence by a single physician. Results. Operative time and pain scores in the nonfixation group were significantly lower, without any increase in rates of recurrence. Conclusion. Based on these findings, in Lichtenstein hernia repair method, nonfixation technique can be used safely with better results.

Petit lumbar hernia--a double-layer technique for tension-free repair

This report describes an alternative technique for Petit hernia repair. The treatment of lumbar hernias should follow the concept of tension-free surgery, and the preperitoneal space can be the best place for prosthesis placement. An obese patient had a bulge in the right lumbar region, which gradually grew and became symptomatic, limiting her daily activities and jeopardizing her quality of life. She had previously undergone 2 surgical procedures with different incisions. We created a preperitoneal space and attached a mesh in this position. Another prosthesis was placed on the muscles, with a suitable edge beyond the limits of the defect. There were no complications. It has been described as a safe and tension-free repair for Petit hernia. In larger defects, a second mesh can be used to prevent further enlargement of the triangle and also to provide additional protection beyond the bone limits.

Effectiveness of Lichtenstein repairs in planned treatment of giant inguinal hernia - own experience

Introduction

Occurrence of giant inguinal hernias is not frequent because of growing medical awareness in the community as well as progress in surgical treatment in this field.

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of repairs using the Lichtenstein technique in scheduled treatment of giant inguinal hernias.

Material and methods

Between 2006 and 2010 in the Department of Surgery with the Subdepartment of Proctology, Hospital at Solec in Warsaw, 909 repairs of inguinal hernia were performed, including 15 patients (1.65%) with the diagnosis of giant hernia. In 3 cases it was direct inguinal hernia and in 12 cases indirect inguinal hernia. All giant hernias occurred in male patients between 33 and 87 years of age (mean age 65 years old) and developed for many years, median of 14.2 years. All patients underwent scheduled repairs using the tension-free Lichtenstein technique. A non-absorbable polypropylene mesh was used for hernioplasty. Exact Fisher's test (p < 0.01) was used for statistical analysis.

Results

In all cases contents of the hernial sac consisted of loops of small intestine, colon and omentum. Early complications occurred in 11 patients (73%) in the group of patients with giant hernias, whereas in the remaining group of patients early complications occurred in 53 patients (5.9%). The difference was statistically significant. In the group of patients with giant hernias no recurrence was observed over the observation period ranging from 6 months to 4.5 years. In the remaining group of patients recurrences occurred in 23 patients (2.6%).

Conclusions

The Lichtenstein technique of repair is effective in management of giant inguinal hernias. A statistically significantly higher percentage of complications was observed in the group of patients with giant hernias as compared to the remaining group of patients with inguinal hernias. Patients with giant hernias require proper preparation for surgery, especially in relation to their respiratory efficiency.

Internal Ring Occlusion and Floor Support: A Novel Technique for Inguinal Hernia Mesh Repair

Tension-free, open-mesh, inguinal herniorrhaphies have gained wide acceptance. Current mesh techniques reinforcing the internal ring do not provide a comfortable lay to the mesh. To address this, we used the internal ring occlusion and floor support (IROFS) technique. A retrospective review was undertaken of all hernias operated on with the IROFS technique from January 2001 to December 2006. Five hundred twenty-five inguinal hernia repairs were done in 477 male patients. Telephone questionnaires looking into their postoperative course and recurrence were recorded. We contacted 275 (58%) patients. Patients’ ages ranged from 29 to 81 years (mean, 57 years). The hernia was indirect in 50 per cent (n = 146), direct in 35 per cent (n = 102), or both in 15 per cent (n = 44) of patients. The average operative time was 40 minutes. Acute wound pain lasted for less than 1 week in 55 per cent (n = 151) and for 1 to 2 weeks in 24 per cent (n = 66). Postoperative analgesic requirement was less than 1 week in 54 per cent (n = 147) and 1 to 2 weeks in 27 per cent (n = 74). Most patients returned to their daily activities in 2 weeks (75%) and to work in 3 weeks (74%). Chronic pain lasted for 6 to 48 months (mean, 20 months) in only seven patients. No recurrence of hernia was observed during follow-up visits (range, 26-96 months; mean, 53 months). In conclusion, IROFS can be performed with little difficulty, is cost-effective, and is well tolerated by the patient.

Risk factors related with unfavorable outcomes in groin hernia repairs

PURPOSE

Hernia repairs are a common surgical procedure, and are associated with a significant cost. Despite the acceptance of the advantages of early elective hernia repairs, the incidence of emergency admissions with complicated presentations remains high, and the natural history of an untreated hernia is not obvious. This study aimed to define risk factors related with unfavorable outcomes in groin hernia repairs.

METHODS

We analyzed the records of 685 elective or emergency repairs of groin hernias between December 2005 and June 2009. Patient age ranged from 17 to 85 years, with 240 (35%) of patients being older than 60 years of age. Indirect inguinal hernias were the most common hernia type in both sexes of patients. Coexisting cardiopulmonary problems were noted in 294 male and 33 female patients. American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grades 3 and 4 were encountered in 61 (9%) patients. Data were analyzed by chi-square test.

RESULTS

Significantly high incarceration and strangulation rates were found in females and femoral hernia type. The overall morbidity rate was 7%, major complications 3%. No mortality was observed in the series and postoperative complications were significantly more common in patients with high ASA score and severe coexisting cardiopulmonary problems. Advanced age, delayed admission, femoral type hernia and female sex were also linked with unfavorable outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of complicated presentation and unfavorable outcome in patients with groin hernia is significant in the presence of factors such as advanced age, femoral hernia, female sex, delayed admission, severe coexisting cardiopulmonary problems and high ASA score. Although it is difficult to estimate the natural history of untreated hernia, hernia repairs of patients with the above-mentioned risk factors should be timely and elective.

[Evaluation of a clinical pathway of the inguinal hernia repair in a general surgery service]

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work is to assess the level of implementation of an inguinal hernia clinical pathway and its impact on the patient satisfaction.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

An inguinal hernia repair clinical pathway was introduced in our service in January 2008. We studied all patients included in the clinical pathway since its introduction. The evaluation variables included: level of implementation, indicators of effectiveness in clinical care, and indicators of satisfaction based on a questionnaire.

RESULTS

During the first year of introducing the clinical pathway we operated on 582 patients for hernia repair. We excluded 85 cases (14.6%) from the study, due to not fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The study was finally conducted with 497 patients, 49 (9.8%) women and 448 (90.2%) men. The mean age of these patients was 56.6 (21-88) years old. A right hernia repair was performed on 273 cases (54.3%) and 224 (45.7% on the left hernia. In 473 (95.2%) it was a primary hernia and a recurrence in 24 (4.8%). In 441(88.7%) it was a unilateral hernia and 56 (11.3%) a bilateral hernia. The mean length of hospital stay was 1.1 (1-119) days. The level of compliance with length of hospital stay was 96.8%. The level of compliance with surgical prevention was 87.7%. Level of document management by the nursing staff was 86.5% and for doctors it was 80,7%. Overall morbidity was 6%. The informed consent was correctly executed in 97,8% of the cases and 98.6% of patients were given a final report on the day of leaving hospital. A total of 369 satisfaction questionnaires were collected, which was a response rate of 74.2%. Almost all (96%) patients were satisfied with the received information, 87.6% said their pain was managed correctly, and 81% found stay appropriate, and 95% said their hospital stay was between acceptable and good. The level of satisfaction with the care received was 97.5%, and 97.4% of the patients studied would recommend the hospital to a friend or family.

CONCLUSION

The introduction of a clinical pathway for inguinal hernia repair has led to a good integration, the services involved in the same. Patients have expressed a high level of satisfaction with the service received, but there are aspects that we must improve: in the information and communication with the patient, the action protocols, evaluation criteria, the VC ¿clinical pathway? Registers, and the satisfaction survey model.

Groin Herniorrhaphy in Patients with Cirrhosis and after Liver Transplantation

We report on 43 groin herniorrhaphy operations, 18 in 18 patients with documented cirrhosis and 25 in 24 patients after liver transplantation (LT), over a 10-year period at UCLA. Average follow up was 33 months. Most patients were males (84%) with reducible inguinal hernias (70%). Child's class of cirrhotic patients was B in 66 per cent and A and C in 17 per cent each; 7 patients (39%) went on to LT. Compared with post-LT patients, patients with cirrhosis had significantly lower platelets and significantly higher bilirubin, international normalized ratio, and Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores. Mesh was used in 33 per cent of the cirrhotic group and 48 per cent of the LT group. There were four minor wound complications but no deaths, major complications, infections, or ascitic leaks in either group. Two hernias recurred in the cirrhosis group (11%) and none after LT. We conclude that with proper patient selection, groin herniorrhaphy with or without mesh is a safe and durable procedure in patients with cirrhosis and after LT. This is the first large series of groin herniorrhaphy after LT.