Comparison of post-operative pain after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal mesh repair of indirect inguinal hernia with tacker and without tacker fixation

Objectives: To compare the post-operative pain after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal mesh repair of indirect inguinal hernia with tacker and without tacker fixation. Materials & Methods: This comparative study was done at Surgical Department of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur from May 2020 to November 2020 over the period of 6 months. Total 182 patients with indirect inguinal hernia, having age range from 20 to 60 either male or female were selected. In group A patients, laparoscopic TEP mesh repair of inguinal hernia without tacker fixation was done while in group B patients, laparoscopic TEP mesh repair of inguinal hernia with tacker fixation was done. Patients were assessed for postoperative pain and outcome (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) at 1 month follow up. Results: Average of patients was 41.33 +/- 12.37 years and 40.83 +/- 12.04 years in group A and group B. Out of 182 patients, 170 (93.41%) were males and 12 (6.59%) were females. Mean post-operative pain in Group A was 1.46 +/- 1.50 while in Group B was 1.77 +/- 2.08 (p-value=0.2505). Satisfactory outcome was noted in 84 (92.31%) patients and 67 (73.63%) patients of group A and B and the difference was significant (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Results of this study showed that there is a significant difference of satisfactory outcome (less post-operative pain) between the non-fixation and fixation group. Difference of satisfactory outcome was also significant between male patients, diabetics and obese patients of both groups.