Comparative Study of Post-Operative Pain in Open (Lichtenstein) Repair Versus Laparoscopic Repair for Unilateral Inguinal Hernia.

Abstract

Introduction: Inguinal hernia repair is the most common procedure that general surgeons undertake all over the world. The increasing popularity of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is, in part, due to the clinical potentials with less post operative pain and a shorter duration of convalescence compared with an open hernia repair technique. The study focuses to compare the operative time, postoperative pain along with requirements of analgesics. Material and methods: The present study was conducted on 60 patients admitted with diagnosis of inguinal hernia over the period of one and half years (Jan 2014-June 2015) in the Department of General Surgery, MMIMSR, MULLANA (DISTT AMBALA), Haryana, India. These patients were divided at random by lottery system in two groups of 30 patients each i.e. Group A and Group B. Group A was treated by Tension Free Hernia Repair by Lichtenstein technique. Group B was treated by Laparoscopic technique of hernia repair. Results: VAS score in the Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair group ranged from 1 to 8 for which the mean was 3.80 ±1.86 during the 1st 12 hours whereas VAS score in the laparoscopic repair group ranged from 1 to 7 whose mean was 2.87±1.78. Analgesic tablet was given to the patients of both the group post-operative day 2 onwards as per requirement after 24 hours of operation. The mean analgesic tablet consumed was 5.27±1.72 in Lichtenstein open mesh repair and 3.53±1.93 in laparoscopic repair which was statistically significant. Conclusion: Laparoscopic procedure showed clear advantages such as less postoperative and chronic pain, lower incidence of use of pain medication