Abstract

Objective: To describe our experience of Lichtenstein repair in a community based teaching hospital.
Patients and Methods: This prospective study included patients presenting to the surgical outpatient department of Fatima Hospital for elective hernia repair over a 2 year period.
Results: Sixty four patients underwent hernia repair. All were males. Most common (67%) were indirect inguinal hernias. Fifty-seven percent had no symptoms. Chronic constipation was present in 22% and cough in 11% patients. Eighty six percent of the patients had no co-morbidities and 84% patients belonged to ASA class I. Eighty seven percent procedures were performed under spinal anesthesia. Mean operating time was 57±18 minutes with no operative complications. Four patients had scrotal hematoma and 3 had seromas, while one patient each had wound infection, spinal headache and urinary retention. None of the patients required surgical intervention or mesh removal. Average cost per patient was 3204±510 rupees.
Conclusion: Our outcomes of Lichtenstein repair were comparable with the international and local literature. Further reductions in costs can be achieved by performing the procedure under local rather regional anesthesia. (Rawal Med J 2008;33:169-173).

Key words: Inguinal hernia, mesh repair, complications of mesh repair.