Plication darn for the repair of inguinal hernia. A University hospital experience

OBJECTIVE: Recurrence rate in inguinal hernia repair is the main concern of both the surgeon and patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome in patients undergoing open inguinal hernia repair by using muscle fascial plication and nylon darn.

METHODS: This technique was performed in 2 University hospitals within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital and King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, for a period of 23 years, October 1978 through to October 2001, on a total of 600 patients.

RESULTS: The total number of patients was 654 these were all male. The same repair was performed in elective cases, in acute emergency and for both direct and indirect inguinal hernia. Patients suffering from chronic cough are referred to a pulmonologist for treatment before surgery. Follow-up was for a period of 10 years thereafter by phone communication. Fifty-four patients were excluded from the study as they failed to attend for follow up after the 3rd year. Six hundred patients underwent 619 repairs. Post operative pain was controlled by pethidine in the first 24-hours, thereafter by paracetamol tablets. Patients were advised to return to normal activity after 3/52. No heavy weight lifting before 3-4 months. Recurrence occurred in one case.

CONCLUSION: Muscle fascial plication combined with nylon darn is a good operation for the repair of inguinal hernia.