Pain after hernia repair with simultaneous extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

To compare postoperative pain levels and postoperative morbidity between patients who underwent extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (EPLRP) concomitant hernia repair and patients who underwent only EPLRP, by matched-pair analyses.

From December 2003 to December 2012, 54 patients who underwent EPLRP with simultaneous hernia repair were categorized as group 1. Their postoperative pain levels were quantitatively compared with those of 54 patients who underwent only EPLRP (group 2), in matched-pair analyses, including age, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiologists scoring. Preoperative tumor characteristics, operative and postoperative data were recorded. Pain levels were evaluated by using the visual analog scale (VAS) scoring, every day, during the first postoperative week. Statistical analyses were performed.

Mean follow-up was 21 months. Mean age was 65±0.5 years. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data were similar in the two groups. Group 1 needed a mean of 9.17 mg and group 2 needed a mean of 8.06 mg morphine derivative analgesic (piritramide) postoperatively. Total mean VAS scores were 5.65 and 4.98, in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P=0.06). Moreover, there was no significant difference between groups for complications.

Simultaneous hernia repair does not affect pain levels after EPLRP. The procedure also does not result in prolongation of operative time and does not increase complication rates.