A comparative follow up study of transabdominal preperitoneal mesh repair in inguinal hernias with or without mesh fixation

Objective: To compare the recurrence rate and chronic pain in hernia patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic transabdominal preperitoneal fixation with and without mesh. Method: The prospective comparative study was conducted at Surgical Units 4 and 5 of the Civil Hospital, Karachi, from August 1, 2017, to July 1, 2018, and comprised hernia patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic transabdominal preperitoneal fixation who were randomised into fixation Group A and non-fixation Group B. Postoperative visual analogue scale score was calculated at the time of discharge. At 1-year follow-up, recurrence rate and chronic pain were assessed. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. Result: Of the 98 patients, there were 49(50%) in each of the two groups. Of the total, there were 97(99%) males. The overall mean age was 44.52±14.51 years. The differences in visual analogue scale scores at the time of discharge and the mean discharge from the hospital in terms of days were statistically significant (p0.05). Chronic pain between the groups was not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in terms of recurrence and chronic pain between mesh and non-mesh fixation. Key Words: TAPP, Transabdominal preperitoneal, Laparoscopic TAPP, Robotic TAPP, Mesh fixation, Tacker fixation. Continuous...