Application of Staple Gun versus Proline Suture during Inguinal Hernia Mesh Hernioplasty in Terms of Post-operative Complications

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of mesh fixation with staple gun tacks versus polypropylene suture in terms of post-operative outcomes during Lichtenstein mesh hernioplasty for inguinal hernias.

Study Design: Prospective comparative study.

Setting: Department of Surgery, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar.

Duration: From 1st January, 2022, to 31st December, 2022.

Methodology: After attaining approval from the Hospital ethical committee, the patients were allocated in two groups through blocked randomization: Group A (using staple gun for mesh fixation) and Group B (using polypropylene suture for mesh fixation). Outcomes such as post-operative pain (VRS scale), hematoma formation and urinary retention were studied. Results were analyzed on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23 and depicted in the form of description, statistical tables and charts.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 44.404 years ± 1.85 and all were males in both groups. Hematoma was unnoticeable in both groups. Relatively same proportion of patients had post-operative urinary retention, 5 in proline group and 6 in staple gun group. Higher mean pain on VRS was observed in the staple gun group (0.42 +_ 0.57 standard deviation) as compared to the proline suture group (0.12 +_ 0.39 standard deviation). Conclusion: According to this study post-operative pain was the single most important variable that favored utilization of proline suture as the better technique for mesh fixation in inguinal mesh hernioplasty.