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Open inguinal hernia repair in women: is mesh necessary?
N M Thairu1, B P Heather, J J Earnshaw
1Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, GL1 3NN, Gloucester, UK.
Background:
There is little information available on recurrence rates following primary open inguinal hernia repair in women. Women are less prone to inguinal hernias than men; for the same reason, recurrences after hernia repair may also be lower so that the well-known advantage of using mesh could be lost on them.
Method:
Women having primary open inguinal hernia repair under the care of one surgical team were identified from the unit database. Recurrences in those who had non-mesh repair were sought by a combination of a written questionnaire and clinical examination.
Results:
Fifty-two women had a non-mesh inguinal hernia repair over a 12-year interval; 37 responded to a questionnaire. There were no major perioperative complications; one recurrence was diagnosed, giving an overall recurrence rate of 2.8% (95% confidence interval 8.2%). During the study interval 37 women had open mesh repair of an inguinal hernia. There were three major complications.
Conclusions:
The routine use of mesh for open indirect inguinal hernia repair in women may not be necessary.
