Use of biological material as an adjuvant in Bassini hernia repair: technical notes

The aim of this study was to describe the feasibility and efficacy of a new operative technique using biological material as an adjuvant for the repair of inguinal hernia according to the original Bassini technique in an attempt to achieve complete restoration not only of the anatomical integrity but also of the physiological elasticity and flexibility of the inguinal canal. Between February and July 2008 a total of 12 patients underwent the original Bassini repair of primary and recurrent inguinal hernia. The biological material was used as an adjuvant to create a quadruple layer in the restoration of the posterior wall of the inguinal canal in order to further strengthen it. Fourteen procedures were performed on 12 adult male, unselected patients. Inguinal hernias were unilateral in 10 patients, bilateral in 2 patients, and recurrent in 3 patients. Mean operation time was 45 minutes (range: 30-70). No general or local intraoperative complications were registered. Mean postoperative pain was rated with the VAS pain score was 2.8 (range: 2-4) in the first 48 hours. No postoperative complications occurred. After a mean follow-up of 5 months (range: 3-6), there were no early recurrences nor persisting inguinal pain. The use of biological material as an adjunct to the Bassini procedure achieves four main objectives: two mechanical and two biological. The two mechanical aims include: further decrease of the tension of the suture line when anchored to the isolated posterior border of Poupart's ligament. The second mechanical objective is that the biological material acts as a binder that protects the suture line when the intra-abdominal pressure increases. The two biological objectives are regrowth of the fascia over the transversalis fascia, and increased production and deposition of collagen on the suture line ten times greater than that of the native fascia, thus improving the healing process.