Open and Endoscopic Technique in Female Inguinal Hernia Repair. FemaleHernia

Postoperative Pain and Recurrences After Totally Extraperitoneal Endoscopic (TEP) vs. Lichtenstein Hernioplasty in Female Inguinal Hernia Repair: a Prospective Randomized Multi-center Study

This randomized study compares open inguinal hernia repair (Lichtenstein hernioplasty) to endoscopic repair (TEP) in terms of chronic pain and recurrences in one and five years after operation.

The best operative technique in female inguinal hernia is not known. Some register studies recommend always laparoscopic hernia repair in females, but there are no randomized studies to show that laparoscopic repair is better than open hernioplasty. Our study compares operative complications, chronic pain and recurrences in Lichtenstein operation to totally endoscopic hernia repair (TEP) in 170 female patients with primary inguinal hernia. The patients are operated in six Finnish hospitals, randomized into 85 Lichtenstein vs 85 TEP and followed 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 months and 5 years. Main end-point in postoperative pain after one year, sencondary endpoints are sick leave, return to normal physical activity, complications of treatment, re-operations, chronic pain and costs of treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• primary inguinal hernia in females

Exclusion Criteria:

• emergency operation
• recurrent hernia
• groin pain without hernia
• frail and sick patient ASA ≥ 4