Concurrent radical retropubic prostatectomy and Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair through a single modified Pfannenstiel incision: a 3-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of a 3-year experience of radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) through a modified Pfannenstiel incision and concomitant repair of an inguinal hernia at the time of RRP, using a tension-free technique with a mesh, as described by Lichtenstein, with no additional incision(s), as 5-10% of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer have a detectable inguinal hernia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who had RRP between October 2002 and July 2005 were included; we used a standard open RRP, in all cases using a modified Pfannenstiel incision. If the patient had an inguinal hernia, we approached the inguinal canal through the same incision and performed a Lichtenstein mesh repair, through the inguinal canal and avoiding placing mesh within the pelvis. Patients were followed at 1 and 6 weeks, 3-monthly for 1 year and 6-monthly thereafter. All clinical variables were entered into a database and analysed.

RESULTS: In all, 450 men underwent RRP; 44 (10%) had inguinal hernia and in all, 56 hernias were repaired (32 unilateral and 12 bilateral; 16 indirect, 22 direct, six both) The mean (sd) age of the patients was 60 (7) years. Most patients were discharged within 36 h. The mean (sd) follow-up was 9 (8) months. Two patients had a superficial inguinal haematoma and one had a scrotal haematoma. They were treated conservatively with no sequelae. There were no wound infections. One patient developed a recurrent inguinal hernia. None had any clinical evidence of testicular atrophy or chronic pain.

CONCLUSION: Concurrent formal mesh repair of the inguinal hernia and RRP through a single modified Pfannenstiel incision is safe and effective. The complications were minimal and recurrence rates were low. This procedure eliminates the risks involved with the preperitoneal mesh repair and avoids multiple incisions.