Background
Mesh fixation is an important step in laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) hernia repair because it reduces the risk of mesh migration. However, it is thought to carry a higher risk of acute and chronic pain than nonfixation, and leaving the mesh unfixed could result in a high recurrence rate.
Objective
To compare the effectiveness of sutured repair using tackers or sutures in laparoscopic TAPP surgical mesh fixation for inguinal hernia repair.
Patients and methods
At Damanhour Teaching Hospital in El-Beheira, Egypt, from September 2018 to November 2022, 60 patients who were eligible for laparoscopic TAPP unilateral inguinal hernia repair under general anesthesia participated in this randomized clinical trial. Two equal groups of patients were randomly assigned: group A had titanium tacks used to secure the mesh, whereas group B had polypropylene 2/0 sutures to achieve the same.
Results
Between the two groups, there were no statistically significant differences in terms of demographics, intraoperative problems, or postoperative complications. The length of the operation and the hospital stay were statistically considerably shorter for group A than for group B.
Conclusion
Although laparoscopic TAPP inguinal hernia repair greatly reduces postoperative discomfort, painkiller use, and delays return to normal activity, its limited use is owing to the rise in hospital expenditures brought on by the use of tackers. The results of sutured repair are identical to those of tacker repair, but they need longer hospital stay with longer operative time.