Abstract

Comparison of Heavy- and Light-Weight Composite Mesh in Pain Reduction Among Patients with Inguinal Hernia: A 1-Year Randomized Control Trial

Background: Inguinal hernia is commonly addressed complication among men and women. Surgical mesh repair is widely used as a treatment. Postoperative chronic pain is a major complication and concern, as it restricts the patient’s regular activities. Objective: To compare the heavy-weight polypropylene and the light-weight prolene mesh for the reduction of postoperative pain in patients undergoing Lichtenstein mesh repair of inguinal hernia. Methodology: This 1-year randomized study included 60 patients with inguinal hernia. They were divided into two equal groups (n=30)- light-weight prolene (SP-study group) and heavy-weight polypropylene mesh (RP-control group). Lichtenstein mesh repair surgery was performed on the patients according to the groups assigned. Postoperative pain was assessed based on visual analog score ranging from 0 to 10. Patients were followed up postoperative for the first, second, and third week. Microsoft Excel was used to enter the data and categorical data were expressed as rates, ratios and percentages. Data were compared using Fishers exact test and chi-square test. Results: During the first follow-up, all the patients in group SP reported moderate pain; however, 60% of patients in group RP reported pain (p<0.001). During second follow-up, majority of the patients (90%) in group SP reported mild pain compared to 26.67% patients in group RP (p<0.001). At the third follow-up, all the patients (100%) in group SP reported mild pain compared to 53.33% patients in group RP (p<0.001). Conclusion: The prolene light mesh significantly reduced the postoperative pain in patients undergoing Lichtenstein mesh repair for inguinal hernia as compared to heavy-weight mesh.

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