Background: inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common operations in general surgery. The Lichtenstein tension-free operation has become gold standard in open inguinal hernia repair. Despite the low recurrence rates; postoperative pain and discomfort remain a problem for a large number of patients.
Aim of the work: the aim of this study is to compare between cyanoacrylate, sutureless and polypropylene sutures in mesh fixation on lichtenstein tension free in repair of open inguinal hernia regard as postoperative pain, infection, recurrence,& cost benefit.
Methods: a total of thirty patients with primary unilateral uncomplicated inguinal hernia were randomized to undergo lichtenstein tension free hernioplasty, and were randomized using close envelope into three groups: Group A: Inguinal hernioplasty with mesh fixation using polypropylene sutures (10 patients), Group B: Inguinal hernioplasty with mesh fixation using cyanoacrylate glue (10 patients) and Group C: Inguinal hernioplasty with mesh placement without sutures (10 patients). Primary outcome was early and late postoperative pain. Secondary endpoints were use of painkillers after 24 hours, morbidity rate and recurrence rate. Follow-up time was 6 months.
Results: significantly, less postoperative pain was reported in group B compared to the other two groups (A&C). Additionally, trends toward a higher postoperative quality of life, a faster surgical procedure, and a shorter hospital stay and earlier return to daily activities were seen in patients within group(B).Clinical recurrence was reported in only one patient in Group C after a period of four months follow up postoperatively.
Conclusion: cyanoacrylate glue seemed to be a simple, original, reasonable, feasible, reproducible technique and competitive alternative to the standard tissue-penetrating meshfixation devices in open inguinal hernioplasty. It is accompanied by a reduction in chronic inguinal pain, with no increase in the early recurrence rate.