Comparison of Postoperative Short-term Complications and Recurrence after One Year between Laparoscopic Transabdominal Pre-peritoneal (TAPP) and Lichtenstein Tension Free Repair on the Treatment of Primary Unilateral Inguinal Hernia

Background: Inguinal hernia is one of the most common cases of elective surgery. Several methods are used to repair inguinal hernia, however, none of these methods have been introduced as the preferred method. Based on this, the current study was designed with the aim of comparing the postoperative short-term complications and recurrence after one year between laparoscopic transabdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP) and Lichtenstein tension free repair in the treatment of primary unilateral inguinal hernia.

Methods: In this clinical trial study, 122 patients who were candidates for inguinal hernia surgery in Ahvaz Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz, Southern Iran in 2022 were randomly assigned to two laparoscopic (TAPP) and open (Lichtenstein) surgery groups. Patients were compared in terms of short-term complications (hematoma, infection, seroma), post-surgery pain and number of hospitalization days, surgery duration, scar length and one-year recurrence rate.

Results: Wound infection, seroma, and hematoma after surgery in the TAPP group were significantly less than the patients in the Lichtenstein group (P=0.002). Pain intensity, recurrence rate and mean length of surgical scar in laparoscopic group patients were lower than open method group (P=0.001). The mean duration of surgery in the laparoscopic group was higher than the Lichtenstein group, but there was no remarkable difference (P=0.396). The mean duration of surgery in the TAPP group was higher than the Lichtenstein group, but there was no notable difference (P=0.396).

Conclusions: The TAPP method has an obvious advantage over the conventional open surgery of Lichtenstein, especially in terms of reducing the initial postoperative pain and the occurrence of complications and recurrence after surgery.