• Frederik Berrevoet, Leander Maes, Koen Reyntjens, Xavier Rogiers, Roberto Troisi, and Bernard de Hemptinne.
• Department of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Service, Ghent University Hospital and Medical School, De Pintelaan 185, 2 K 12 IC, 9000, Gent, Belgium. frederik.berrevoet@Ugent.be
• Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2010 Jun 1; 395 (5): 557-62.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare the transinguinal preperitoneal technique (TIPP) using a memory ring patch versus the Lichtenstein technique in relation to acute and chronic pain, post-operative complications and recurrence rates.MethodsDuring an 18-month period, all adult patients that needed treatment for a unilateral inguinal or femoral hernia were treated by the TIPP repair using the Polysoft mesh. This group was retrospectively compared with a historical cohort of patients treated by the Lichtenstein technique. Our policy concerning type of anaesthesia, post-operative pain management and visual analogue scale measurements did not change over the study period. For post-operative pain evaluation, the visual analogue scale was used (0-10) and scores were measured after 6 h, 24 h, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year and yearly thereafter. Recurrence rates were evaluated at time of clinical examinations.ResultsIn total, 142 patients have been analysed with the TIPP technique (group I) versus 136 patients operated in the previous 2 years with a Lichtenstein repair (group II). In group I, 112 patients (78.9%) received a medium size patch of 14 x 7.5 cm and 30 patients (21.1%) had a large patch (16 x 9 cm). The mean operative time for a TIPP procedure was statistically shorter than for a Lichtenstein repair, 33 versus 44 min, respectively (p = 0.04). After 24 h, 1 week and 1 month post-surgery, there was significantly less post-operative pain observed in the TIPP group than in the Lichtenstein group. In total, four recurrences were observed in the TIPP group (2.8%), of which one laterally and three medially. In group II, seven recurrences were observed in total (5.1%), of which five were detected within 2 years of follow-up (3.7%).ConclusionFor surgeons performing the Lichtenstein repair but looking for modifications concerning pain relief and a quicker procedure, the TIPP approach is a feasible alternative that seems to be associated with less post-operative pain.

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