Publication

Abstract : BACKGROUND Inguinal hernia repair is the most frequently performed operation in any general surgical unit. The Bassini’s, Shouldice and other tissue-based techniques are still being acceptable for primary inguinal hernia repair. Desarda’s technique is originally a tissue based hernia repair using an undetached strip of external oblique aponeurosis to strengthen the posterior wall of the inguinal canal. The aim of the present study was to compare Lichtenstein hernia repair and Desarda herniorrhaphy. METHODS A total of 40 patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were subjected either to Desarda herniorrhaphy or Lichtenstein hernioplasty. The patients were followed in terms of recurrence rate, post-operative complications, convalescence, chronic pain and cost effectiveness. RESULTS During the followup all patients had either mild or moderate pain, but the pain intensity was more in Lichtenstein repair compared to Desarda repair in the immediate postoperative period. In Lichenstein repair patients had chronic groin pain even at the end of one year, but none of the patients in Desarda repair had chronic groin pain. Complications such as seroma and wound infection were less in Desarda repair. Time taken to resume normal activities was significantly less in case of Desarda herniorrhaphy; however, there was no recurrence observed in both the groups during the followup period. Average cost incurred for Desarda repair was significantly less than Lichtenstein repair. CONCLUSION Lichtenstein method of hernia repair is simple and safe. But the mesh prosthesis has its drawbacks. Desarda hernia repair is based on physiological principles and the results are good with less convalescence period and fewer recurrences and no chronic groin pain. It is more cost effective.