COMPARISON OF OUTCOMES BETWEEN THE LICHTENSTEIN AND BASSINI METHODS IN INGUINAL HERNIA-A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL

BACKGROUND Inguinal hernia is one of the most common causes of abdominal surgery, especially in males. For repairing this kind of hernia, there are laparoscopic and open surgical methods. Open surgery may be done through the Lichtenstein (with mesh) and Bassini (without mesh) techniques. In the present study we compared the outcomes between the Lichtenstein and Bassini's methods in Babol, northern Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective randomised controlled trial study was performed on male patients aged 18 - 80 years old with one-sided inguinal hernia, who were candidates for surgery during 2015 and 2016. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups of Lichtenstein (n= 70) and Bassini (n= 50). Postoperative complications of the two groups were noted in a checklist. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess the severity of post-operative pain. Data was analysed with SPSS software. RESULTS The mean hospitalisation duration, time to get back to work and acute pain duration were 1.00 +/- 0.00, 16.70 +/- 13.48 and 8.80 +/- 7.53 days in Lichtenstein group compared with 1.10 +/- 0.36, 19.12 +/- 11.89 and 8.06 +/- 6.81 days in Bassini group. Mean chronic pain duration was 4.50 +/- 071 months in Lichtenstein group versus 7.00 +/- 3.87 months in Bassini group. No significant differences were found in the post-operative complications between the two groups. Post-operative acute and chronic pains were observed in 28.6% and 36% of Lichtenstein subjects in comparison to 36% and 10% of Bassini subjects. Haematoma (n=2) and infection (n=1) were seen only in Lichtenstein group. Urinary retention (n=1) and hernia on the opposite side (n=2) were found only in Bassini group. Based on VAS pain, mean severity of pain in Lichtenstein group was 0.29 +/- 0.46, significantly less than in Bassini group which was 0.60 +/- 0.81 (p= 0.024). CONCLUSION The results showed that the outcomes of Lichtenstein and Bassini's methods were highly similar. Therefore, both techniques were considered to be safe for the patients.