[Bassini operation with polyglycolic acid or polyester. A prospective randomized study of 300 cases]

In a prospectively randomized trial polyglycolic acid (PGA) was tested against polyester for recurrence rate in Bassini hernia repair. After a median observation period of 2 years a distinct but statistically insignificant difference was found (12.0% recurrence for PGA against 7.0% for polyester). Within prospectively defined risk groups statistically significant differences were found for men (15.4% PGA, 6.4% polyester) and in the presence of at least one of the risk factors obesity, bronchitis, recurrent hernia, size of hernial sac greater than 8 cm, the last of which being the strongest unfavourable variable for PGA.