Inguinal Hernia - Is There Any Room Left for Classical Procedures?

Area of Science:

• General Surgery
• Surgical Innovation
• Hernia Repair

Background:

• Minimally invasive techniques like TAPP and TEP are common for inguinal hernia repair.
• The Lichtenstein mesh technique, an open-surgery approach, retains specific indications.
• Patient demographics in this study skewed towards older individuals with significant comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of the Lichtenstein mesh technique in a real-world clinical setting.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of open inguinal hernia repair in elderly and comorbid patients.
• To compare the suitability of open versus minimally invasive approaches based on patient factors.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 256 consecutive patients undergoing Lichtenstein repair from 2015-2019.
• Analysis of patient age, comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, diabetes), and surgical outcomes.
• Data collected from the Department of General Surgery at "Dr. I. Cantacuzino" Clinical Hospital.

Main Results:

• A favorable outcome was observed in 240 patients (93.75%).
• Local complications occurred in 12 patients (4.7%), and severe cardiac events in 4 patients (1.6%).
• One patient (0.4%) died due to a myocardial infarction, highlighting potential risks in high-risk populations.

Conclusions:

• The Lichtenstein mesh technique is effective, particularly for elderly patients with comorbidities.
• Surgical treatment for inguinal hernias requires individualized adaptation based on patient age and biological status.
• Healthcare facilities should offer both laparoscopic and open surgical options for hernia repair.