Patient-perspective quality of life after laparoscopic and open hernia repair: a controlled randomized trial

Laparoscopic hernia repair accounts for 10% of all hernia surgery. Potential benefits include reduction in postoperative pain, rapid recovery, lower recurrence rate, and fewer complications. The outcomes of health-related quality of life and patient perspective after hernia repair are our aim.

Consecutive patients treated for unilateral uncomplicated groin hernia were enrolled after evaluation for inclusion. Participants were randomly distributed to receive either laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) (group I) or Lichtenstein repair (group II). Operative and postoperative complications, operative time, hospital stay, and late complications were assessed early postoperatively, at 4 weeks, and every 6 months thereafter. Quality of life was assessed using Short Form-36 questionnaire in the first visit (after 4 weeks).

One hundred and eighty-five patients of unilateral uncomplicated groin hernia were included; 88 patients (group I) were treated by TAPP, and 97 patients were treated by Lichtenstein repair (group II) with median follow-up of 17.9 months. Mean hospital stay, mean operative time, operative and postoperative complications were similar in the two groups. Quality of life showed better and significant outcomes in group I for physical function (p ≤ 0.001), role physical (p ≤ 0.011), bodily pain (p ≤ 0.017), general health (p ≤ 0.047), and total physical health (p ≤ 0.008). However, mental health showed no statistical significance in its four scales, but with better outcomes in group I. Total quality outcomes showed significantly better outcomes in group I (p ≤ 0.031).

TAPP hernia repair technique is a safe technique with low complication rate, less postoperative body pain, and better quality-of-life outcomes compared with open technique, being well accepted from the patient’s perspective for quality of life.