Pain after inguinal hernia repair. Possible role of bowel preparation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible effectiveness of bowel preparation on pain after hernia repair.

METHODS: This was a prospective randomized study, performed at King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2000 and December 2002. The group of patient was randomly divided in 2 groups. Sixty-two patients (Group I) had bowel preparation and 65 patients (Group II) had no bowel preparation. All patients in the Group 1 received lactulose 2 days before surgery and rectal enema on the day of surgery. Patients were assessed at 8 hours interval in the hospital. They were assessed for the severity of pain during the first micturation and bowel motion.

RESULTS: The pain score in the first 24 hours was significantly lower in the Group 1 (p<0.01) as well as second 24 hours (p<0.001). The pain in the first micturation (p<0.001) and during the first bowel motion (p<0.001) was less in Group I compared to Group II.

CONCLUSION: Patients with bowel preparation before hernia repair had significantly less pain postoperatively even in the first micturation as well as the first bowel motion than those without bowel preparation.