Comparison of Complications and Recurrence of Hernioplasty by Open and Laparascopic Methods

BACKGROUND:
Inguinal hernia is a common disease specially in men. Hernias have major complications such as incarceration, bowel obstruction, strangulation and even life-threatening problems. Here, all hernias should be treted by surgical operation. Reparation of hernias has two methods: open hernioplasty and laparoscopic hernioplasty. The purpose of this study was to compare the complications and recurrence of hernias after operation by two methods of laparoscopic hernioplasty and open surgery.

METHODS:
In this clinical trial conducted during one year, 80 patients were operated by two surgeons by two methods of laparoscopic and open surgery. Before the operation, the patient’s data were documented in a questionnaire. Patients were visited by their surgeon 6 weeks and at mean 15±6 months after operation in clinic in order to assess the complications and recurrence after surgery. Data were analyzed by SPSS software ver 14 at P<0.05.

FINDINGS:
In this study, complications such as neuralgia, hematoma and infection after laparoscopic hernioplasty were significantly lower than in open surgery (5% vs.15%), respectively, (P=0.008). The recurrence occurred in three cases in laparoscopic hernioplasty and in five cases in open hernioplasty (P=0.139).

CONCLUSION:
The rate of complications, scar and duration of pain after operation was lower and the duration of return to normal activity was faster in laparoscopic hernioplasty via open hernioplasty; but the rate of recurrence had no significant difference between the two groups. We suggest the use of laparascopic hernioplasty in treatment of inguinal hernias.

KEY WORDS:
Hernia, inguinal, laparoscopic hernioplasty, open hernioplasty