A Prospective Randomized Study Comparing Fibrin Glue Versus Prolene Suture for Mesh Fixation in Lichtenstein Inguinal Hernia Repair

The aim of this study is to assess the advantages of fibrin glue over Prolene suture in fixation of the mesh in open inguinal hernia repair. Sixty-four cases of inguinal hernia underwent hernia repair by the Lichtenstein method in the department of surgery in PGIMER & Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi. The patients were randomized prospectively into group A (fibrin glue group) and group B (Prolene suture group). In group A, fibrin glue was used for mesh fixation, and in group B, Prolene suture was used for mesh fixation. The mean age of patients in group A was 44.5 years and that of group B patients was 44.2 years. There was a significant difference in the duration of surgery, with the mean duration in fibrin glue group being 30.6 min and that of the suture group was 43.3 min. The mean visual analogue pain score of postoperative pain at 1, 6, 12, and 24 h was significantly higher in the suture group than in the fibrin glue group (p < 0.001). The mean total dose of analgesia in ampoules of tramadol was significantly less in the fibrin glue group (1.56 ampoules) than that in the suture group (4.125 ampoules) with p = 0.000. At the end of the first month, 25 % of subjects in the suture group presented with mild groin pain (p value = 0.0048). At the end of the second and third month, 22 % (p 68 value = 0.0048) and 12.5 % (p value = 0.1132) of subjects respectively presented with mild groin pain in the suture group. The present study demonstrates that the use of fibrin glue in place of Prolene suture for mesh fixation in open inguinal hernia repair can help decreasing the time required for surgery, reduce the intensity of postoperative pain, shorten the duration of hospital stay, and prevent the incidence of chronic groin pain.