[The Shouldice procedure in the surgical treatment of inguinal hernias]

The Shouldice repair gained a major importance in the treatment of inghinal hernias provided by the excellent results that had been obtained in the Shouldice Hospital on more than 200,000 cases. This study analyze prospectively 101 cases of inguinal hernias that had been treated using the Shouldice procedure with in a 3 year period, comparative with a control cohort of 102 cases of inguinal hernias treated using classic procedures (Bassini, Kimbarowski). The data analyze was performed using Kruskal-Wallis H test and t Student test. The immediately postoperative results have been favorable in 95% cases and the long term postoperative results have been very good in 99% cases (a unique recurrence in a multiple recidivated patient). The result of this study proves that Shouldice repair has advantages comparative with classic treatment: short postoperative hospitalization, low incidence of complication and recurrence.