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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2011 Oct;15(5):495-501.
doi: 10.1007/s10029-011-0808-y. Epub 2011 Mar 25.

Five-year results of a randomised controlled multi-centre study comparing heavy-weight knitted versus low-weight, non-woven polypropylene implants in Lichtenstein hernioplasty

M Smietański  1 , K Bury, I A Smietańska, R Owczuk, T Paradowski; Polish Hernia Study Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Five-year results of a randomised controlled multi-centre study comparing heavy-weight knitted versus low-weight, non-woven polypropylene implants in Lichtenstein hernioplasty

M Smietański et al. Hernia. 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Background: This prospective randomised study evaluated whether non-knitted and non-woven lightweight implants can influence postoperative pain and time of return to normal activity, without increasing the recurrence rate in Lichtenstein inguinal hernioplasty.

Methods: Patients were operated on in four centres, randomised blindly into two groups with respect to the mesh used: Surgimesh WN (non-woven polypropylene microfibre sheet) and heavy weight polypropylene mesh. The operation was performed according to the Lichtenstein technique. Follow-up was designed for 7 days, and 3, 6, 12 and 60 months. The objectives were to assess the incidence of early and late complications, recurrence rate, and postoperative pain.

Results: A total of 220 patients were randomised; after monitoring visits (exclusion of one hospital), 202 qualified for the assessment. At 60 months, the recurrence rate did not differ statistically. Less pain on the 7th postoperative day, and at 3 months, was observed in the WN group. No other differences were observed.

Conclusions: Use of a lightweight non-woven polypropylene implant is a valuable alternative to the use of knitted or woven meshes in the Lichtenstein method. Postoperative pain and recurrence were reduced at short term follow-up, but no statistical difference in recurrence rate was observed at 12 and 60 month follow-up in the patient population tested.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Surgimesh: a low-weight, non-woven, non-knitted implant made from polypropylene microfibre
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Randomized trial of WN or polypropylene mesh in Lichtenstein primary inguinal hernia repair. + Included into final analysis after monitoring visits in the hospitals, * excluded after monitoring visits in hospitals—see text
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
VAS score in follow-up period (means and 95% confidence intervals)—compared with ANOVA and post-hoc HSD Tukey’s tests. *P = 0.0012 when compared with VAS value in WN group at the same time point
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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