Pros and cons of tacking in laparoscopic hernia repair

Present available fixation devices in laparoscopic hernia repair include transfascial sutures, (permanent or absorbable) tacks, and fibrin or synthetic sealants, all of which have advantages and disadvantages. Tack fixation has been applied since the introduction of laparoscopic inguinal and ventral hernia repair during the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, respectively. However, although this type of penetrating fixation offers a reliable method to keep the mesh in place, several negative aspects have been highlighted in recent years. Permanent metallic fixation devices such as helical titanium tacks (Protack™ ) provide greater fixation strength than absorbable fixation devices (AbsorbaTack™, Permasorb™, or SorbaFix™), but as the titanium tacks remain in the body permanently, they have been associated with serious adverse events. Dense adhesion formation and erosion of tacks in hollow viscera have been reported as well as the formation of so-called "tack hernias." However, the most clinically important negative aspect might be the increased acute and chronic postoperative pain. As pain and quality of life, rather than recurrence rate, gained the attention of clinicians, researchers, and patients, recent developments have been focusing on different types of absorbable materials. However, studies that investigated these issues comparing different tack materials for mesh fixation did not show any benefit from any type of fixation. Despite the postoperative short- and long-term sequellae, tack fixation is still the most widely applied technique for laparoscopic mesh fixation.