Nasir Malik, Muhammad Azhar, Omer Salahuddin, Munawer Latif.
Comparison of Half Size (6x5.5) Prolene Mesh with Full Size (6x11) Mesh in Inguinal Hernia Repair.
Ann Pak Inst Med Sci Jan ;9(3):150-2.

Objective: To compare the results of half size 6x5.5cm Prolene mesh with full size 6x11cm mesh in inguinal hernia repair in terms of cost and complications. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and duration: The study was conducted at surgical department Unit-1, POF hospital Wah Cantt from May 2005 to May 2011. Materials and Methods: After approval from the ethics committee of POF Hospital Wah Cantt, all the patients presenting to Surgical OPD with inguinal hernias from January 2005 to December 2011 were included in this randomized control trial. Informed consent was taken from the patients. Patients were divided into two groups by convenient probability sampling. In Group A patients, full 6*11cm sized commercially available Ethicon Prolene mesh was placed and in Group B, half of prolene mesh (6x5.5) was placed. Patients were followed up from 6 to 18 months and the results of both groups were compared in terms of infection, pain, seroma formation, recurrence and cost effectiveness. Results: A total of 300 patients were included. Group A and B each consisted of 150 patients. All were male aged 45 to 65 years. Recurrence occurred in 1 patient in group B and in 2 patients in group A, 7 patients complained of groin pain in group B while 19 patients in group A, P =0.01. 7 patients developed seroma in group A and 1 in group B, 1 patient in each group got wound infection. Full mesh group’s cost was double compared to the half mesh group. Conclusion: Half mesh inguinal hernia repair has similar recurrence and infection rate but lower post operative pain and seroma formation as compared to full mesh hernia repair. It is safe and cost effective.

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