[Personal experience in treating bilateral inguinal hernias]

The treatment of bilateral inguinal hernias is an operation which has a high failure rate. This operation is influenced by a number of factors, above all the strain on aponeuroses and muscle fibres during reconstructive plastic surgery. In addition, metabolic factors, the advanced age and in particular surgical infections should also be taken into account. Over the course of past years synthetic prostheses have been introduced for hernia treatment (tantalum, nylon, steel, ivalon); currently, polypropylene, dacron and goretex are used. Placement may be intraperitoneal, preperitoneal and prefascial. The authors report their experience from December 1989 to December 1991 in relation to 70 patients undergoing surgery for bilateral inguinal hernias. The following results were obtained: a low percentage of complications, reduction of costs and no recidivation to date. These results enable the authors to affirm that the use of synthetic mesh for the treatment of bilateral inguinal hernias is the most appropriate method of choice.