SECURING MESH WITH SKINSTAPLES VERSUS PROLENE SUTURE IN INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR: EFFECTS ON POST-OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Objective: To compare the frequency of surgical site infection, Seroma formation and urinary retention in patients undergoing Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair using staples and polypropylene for securing the mesh.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from Oct 2015 to Nov 2017.
Methods: Patients diagnosed as cases of inguinal hernia, planned to undergo open lichenstein mesh repair were randomly divided into group A and group B having 65 patients in each group. Among group A patients, mesh was secured using skin staples while in group B patients, mesh was secured using conventional prolene 2/0 sutures. Development of postoperative surgical site infection (SSI), seromas formation and urinary retention was checked post-operatively.

Results: Frequency of postoperative surgical site infection was comparatively less in group A (3.1%) as compared to group B (12.3%) which was found to be statistically significant (p-value 0.048). However, frequency of seroma formation and urinary retention was found to be insignificantly altered using both techniques (p-value 0.403 and 0.38 respectively).

Conclusion: Securing mesh with skin staples is superior to prolene in term of frequency of surgical site infection. However, rate of development of seromas and urinary retention is not altered significantly using any of the techniques.