A Study of the Effectiveness of Fibrin Glue vs. Conventional Prolene Suture Fixation for Lichtenstein's Mesh Hernioplasty in Inguinal Hernia Repair

Abstract

Kalpana Vineet, Sidduraj C Sajjan*, Aparajita Mukherjee and Bommareddy Akhila

Introduction: Using conventional sutures for fixation of mesh in hernioplasty may lead to injury of muscle fibres or compress regional nerves leading to pain. Thus there is need to ascertain better and pain free mesh fixation technique. Aim of study is to assess advantages of fibrin glue over prolene suture in fixation of the mesh in open Hernioplasty. The main goal of the study is to compare fibrin glue and prolene sutures for its advantages and disadvantages.

Materials and methods: This prospective randomised comparative study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery at VIMS&RC, Bangalore. Duration of surgery, postoperative pain and use of analgesics, post-operative complications, duration of hospital stay were compared.

Results: 30 patients underwent mesh fixation using fibrin glue and 30 patients underwent suture fixation. Duration of surgery, mean postoperative pain score and use of analgesics were significantly lower in glue fixation group. Both groups of patients had lower incidence of postoperative complications.

Conclusion: Fibrin glue sealant is a better agent for mesh hernioplasty and its use should be encouraged in all patients of hernia repair over sutures, for the best postoperative surgical outcome. The only shortcoming of the glue is the higher cost when compared to sutures. So in situations wherein this higher cost can be overcome, glue is safe, easy and suitable alternative to prolene sutures as mesh fixation agent.