Comparing suture with N-Hexyl Cyanoacrylate glue for mesh fixation in inguinal hernia repair, a randomised clinical trial

Abstract

Purpose: Inguinal hernia is a common surgical problem and different methods are currently used to repair it. In The Lichtenstein technique, the inguinal floor defect is buttressed with a prosthetic mesh and commonly, sutures are used for mesh fixation. N-Hexyl Cyanoacrylate is a gluelike product that can be used for mesh fixation as a substitute with fewer complications. This study was done for comparing therapeutic outcomes of mesh fixation with suture and N-Hexyl cyanoacrylate glue in inguinal hernia repair with the Lichtenstein method.

Methods: In a two-arm parallel-group randomised controlled trial with blinded patients, 58 hernia cases who were candidates for hernia repair with the Lichtenstein method entered the study and randomly divided into two groups. In the control group, the mesh that was used for inguinal floor reinforcement was fixed with sutures and in the intervention group with N-Hexyl Cyanoacrylate glue. The results including acute and chronic pain, hospital stay, complications, and recurrence rate after one year were compared.

Results: There was no recurrence. According to the numeric rating scale (NRS), mean postoperative pain (acute pain) was 6.5 and 5.7 points in the suture and N-Hexyl Cyanoacrylate glue groups respectively, with significant difference (P = 0.006). Mean duration of surgery was 73.3 and 64.5 min in the suture and N-Hexyl cyanoacrylate glue groups respectively, with significant difference (P = 0.014). Complications, hospital stay days, and chronic pain did not differ across the groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Mesh fixation with N-Hexyl cyanoacrylate glue in hernia repair with the Lichtenstein method can lower postoperative pain and duration of surgery and this product might be used as a substitute for suture.

Keywords: Inguinal hernia; Lichtenstein method; N-Hexyl cyanoacrylate glue; Pain.