Comparative study between lightweight poliglecaprone meshes versus traditional heavyweight polypropylene meshes for the repair of inguinal hernia

Introduction The ideal outcome of inguinal hernia surgery is to provide a repair that is free from recurrence, pain and infection with minimal scarring and with improvement in patient's quality of life. Aim of the work Is to compare lightweight poliglecaprone (Ultrapropolypropylene/Monocryl), UltraPro™ mesh with the standard heavyweight polypropylene mesh in tension free Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair. Patients and methods The current study included 200 patients complained of uncomplicated inguinal hernia and they were randomized into two groups according to the type of mesh used in tension free Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair. Group I, 100 patients received the standard polypropylene mesh. Group II, 100 patients received light weight UltraPro™ mesh, using sutures for their fixation. Results The UltraPro™ (LWM) mesh proved to be as safe and effective as the standard (HWM) prolene mesh in repair of uncomplicated inguinal hernia. There was no difference between the two groups as regard to the technical difficulties, operative complications and surgeons were equally satisfied. There was more incidence of chronic pain with prolene mesh (25%) compared to (zero%) with UltraPro™ mesh. The mesh fixation time and the overall operative time were shorter with UltraPro™ mesh. Conclusion The shorter operative time and the no-need to use analgesics could partially compensate the higher cost of UltraPro™ mesh in the absence of other economic factors such as the duration of patient improvement and return to work.