Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Surgery Today 8/2018

01-08-2018 | Original Article

Decreasing prevalence of chronic pain after laparoscopic groin hernia repair: a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire study

Authors: Stina Öberg, Kristoffer Andresen, Jacob Rosenberg

Published in: Surgery Today | Issue 8/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

Up to 6–7% of patients who have undergone laparoscopic groin hernia repair suffer from chronic pain, depending on various factors; however, the long-term course is unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of chronic pain 1–5 years after laparoscopic groin hernia repair.

Methods

The subjects of this nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire study were adults who underwent laparoscopic mesh repair of an inguinal or a femoral hernia. The patients were identified from the Danish Hernia Database, which has a follow-up rate of almost 100%. The prevalence of chronic pain was assessed 1–5 years postoperatively by the validated inguinal pain questionnaire (IPQ).

Results

A total of 1383 groins were included in this study, based on a 66% response rate to the questionnaire. The prevalence of pain decreased, especially 3.5 years postoperatively. There were no statistically significant differences when each postoperative year was compared with the second postoperative year. However, the prevalence of chronic pain 3.5–5 years postoperatively was significantly lower (4.4%) than that 1–3.5 years postoperatively (8.1%) (p = 0.014). The prevalence of pain that could not be ignored was still 5–6% in the fifth postoperative year.

Conclusions

The prevalence of chronic pain seems to decline 1–5 years after laparoscopic groin hernia repair, with a distinct decrease 3.5 years postoperatively.
Literature
8.
go back to reference Poobalan AS, Bruce J, Smith WC, King PM, Krukowski ZH, Chambers WA. A review of chronic pain after inguinal herniorrhaphy. Clin J Pain. 2003;19:48–54.CrossRefPubMed Poobalan AS, Bruce J, Smith WC, King PM, Krukowski ZH, Chambers WA. A review of chronic pain after inguinal herniorrhaphy. Clin J Pain. 2003;19:48–54.CrossRefPubMed
10.
go back to reference Nienhuijs S, Staal E, Strobbe L, Rosman C, Groenewoud H, Bleichrodt R. Chronic pain after mesh repair of inguinal hernia: a systematic review. Am J Surg. 2007;194:394–400.CrossRefPubMed Nienhuijs S, Staal E, Strobbe L, Rosman C, Groenewoud H, Bleichrodt R. Chronic pain after mesh repair of inguinal hernia: a systematic review. Am J Surg. 2007;194:394–400.CrossRefPubMed
14.
go back to reference Schmedt CG, Sauerland S, Bittner R. Comparison of endoscopic procedures vs Lichtenstein and other open mesh techniques for inguinal hernia repair: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Surg Endosc. 2005;19:188–99.CrossRefPubMed Schmedt CG, Sauerland S, Bittner R. Comparison of endoscopic procedures vs Lichtenstein and other open mesh techniques for inguinal hernia repair: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Surg Endosc. 2005;19:188–99.CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gotzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP. The strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. PLoS Med. 2007;4:e296.CrossRef von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gotzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP. The strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. PLoS Med. 2007;4:e296.CrossRef
19.
go back to reference Franneby U, Gunnarsson U, Andersson M, Heuman R, Nordin P, Nyren O, et al. Validation of an Inguinal Pain Questionnaire for assessment of chronic pain after groin hernia repair. Br J Surg. 2008;95:488–93.CrossRefPubMed Franneby U, Gunnarsson U, Andersson M, Heuman R, Nordin P, Nyren O, et al. Validation of an Inguinal Pain Questionnaire for assessment of chronic pain after groin hernia repair. Br J Surg. 2008;95:488–93.CrossRefPubMed
20.
go back to reference Bay-Nielsen M, Nilsson E, Nordin P, Kehlet H. Chronic pain after open mesh and sutured repair of indirect inguinal hernia in young males. Br J Surg. 2004;91:1372–76.CrossRefPubMed Bay-Nielsen M, Nilsson E, Nordin P, Kehlet H. Chronic pain after open mesh and sutured repair of indirect inguinal hernia in young males. Br J Surg. 2004;91:1372–76.CrossRefPubMed
21.
go back to reference Aasvang EK, Bay-Nielsen M, Kehlet H. Pain and functional impairment 6 years after inguinal herniorrhaphy. Hernia. 2006;10:316–21.CrossRefPubMed Aasvang EK, Bay-Nielsen M, Kehlet H. Pain and functional impairment 6 years after inguinal herniorrhaphy. Hernia. 2006;10:316–21.CrossRefPubMed
24.
go back to reference Bay-Nielsen M, Perkins FM, Kehlet H. Pain and functional impairment 1 year after inguinal herniorrhaphy: a nationwide questionnaire study. Ann Surg. 2001;233:1–7.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Bay-Nielsen M, Perkins FM, Kehlet H. Pain and functional impairment 1 year after inguinal herniorrhaphy: a nationwide questionnaire study. Ann Surg. 2001;233:1–7.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
27.
go back to reference Ferzli GS, Edwards ED, Khoury GE. Chronic pain after inguinal herniorrhaphy. J Am Coll Surg. 2007;205:333–41.CrossRefPubMed Ferzli GS, Edwards ED, Khoury GE. Chronic pain after inguinal herniorrhaphy. J Am Coll Surg. 2007;205:333–41.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Decreasing prevalence of chronic pain after laparoscopic groin hernia repair: a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire study
Authors
Stina Öberg
Kristoffer Andresen
Jacob Rosenberg
Publication date
01-08-2018
Publisher
Springer Singapore
Published in
Surgery Today / Issue 8/2018
Print ISSN: 0941-1291
Electronic ISSN: 1436-2813
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-018-1664-5

Other articles of this Issue 8/2018

Surgery Today 8/2018 Go to the issue