Lichtenstein hernioplasty versus totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic hernioplasty in treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia--a prospective randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Lichtenstein hernioplasty with a totally extraperitoneal preperitoneal laparoscopic technique (TEP) in treatment of recurrent inguinal hernias.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Only a few studies thus far have compared an open and laparoscopic approach with the treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia in a prospective randomized study setting.

METHODS: Ninety-nine patients undergoing surgery for recurrent inguinal hernia were prospectively randomized into having either open or laparoscopic mesh repair. Pre, peri- and postoperative factors were recorded in addition to 3-year follow-up data at the outpatient clinic. At 5-10 years, the patients were interviewed via telephone for recurrent symptoms. The primary end-points chosen were hernia recurrence and chronic pain.

RESULTS: Preoperative factors did not differ between the 2 groups. Rerecurrence rates were 3 in the Lichtenstein group and none in the TEP group (6.4% versus 0.0%, respectively), but this difference was statistically not significant. Chronic pain was more prevalent in the Lichtenstein group compared with the TEP group (13 [27.7%] versus 4 [8.2%] patients, respectively, P = 0.02). Postoperatively, the Lichtenstein group needed more pain medication than the TEP group (4.4 versus 3.0 doses, respectively, P = 0.02) and returned to work later (17.9 versus 14.8 days, respectively, P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic technique with mesh in the treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia was proven superior to the open mesh repair in several important clinical aspects, with concomitant improvement in patient satisfaction.