Less pain intensity after lichtenstein-repair by using BioGlue™ for mesh fixation

A pre-trial was conducted to investigate the reliability of using the surgical adhesive, BioGlue™ (CryoLife®, Inc., Kennesaw, Georgia, USA) for mesh fixation in Lichtenstein repair of inguinal hernia. From February to August 2008, 60 patients with unilateral inguinal hernia underwent a Lichtenstein repair. In 30 of the patients, BioGlue™ was used for mesh fixation and in the other 30 cases a conventional suture was used. The patients were sorted into two groups (BioGlue™-group and suture-group). No differences were noted in demographic characteristics. The main criteria for dropout were incarceration, relapse, operation, and/or scrotal hernia. Twenty-four hours postoperative, pain intensity was measured with a numeric analogous scale (NAS) that reached from 0 (no pain) to 10 (heavy pain). The pain intensity in the BioGlue™-group was 2.4 points and 4.3 points in the suture-group. The cut-suture time was 30 minutes in the BioGlue™-group and 56 minutes in the suture-group. In the first nine months, no relapses, no mesh infections, nor serom-formations were reported; however, one superficial wound infection did occur in the BioGlue™-group. Lichtenstein-repair using BioGlue™ for mesh-fixation is a safe, new method without early recurrences and less pain-intensity in relation to suture-supported Lichtenstein repair.