N. J. Mier1, M. C. Helm1, Z. Helmen1, M. E. Bosler1, A. Nielsen1, A. Kastenmeier1, J. C. Gould1, M. I. Goldblatt1 1Medical College Of Wisconsin,Milwaukee, WI, USA
Introduction: Inguinal hernias are among the most common surgical procedures done in the world. For decades, open hernia repair was the only option. However since the 1990’s, laparoscopic repairs have given patients another surgical option. Recent studies suggest that open approach to hernia repair is associated with a greater incidence of chronic pain and patient dissatisfaction. We evaluated quality of life (QOL) in patients who underwent open or laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. We hypothesized that patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs would have improved QOL scores at six months and one year.
Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of adult patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair at the Condon Hernia Institute at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin between September 2012 and July 2016. All patients were administered Short Form-12 (SF-12) surveys at standard intervals to assess patient quality of life. Physical and Mental Composite Scores (PCS and MCS) scores were calculated pre-operatively and post-operatively up to one year. Statistical analysis was performed using a T-test and Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and Chi-square test for categorical variables. A statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.
Results: See Table
Conclusion:
When comparing laparoscopic versus open inguinal hernia repairs at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, we found that:
1) Patients who underwent open repair were older and more likely to have hypertension.
2) Patients with a history of abdominal surgery were more likely to undergo an open repair.
3) There was no difference in long-term QOL scores between laparoscopic and open repair as measured by the mental composite scores and physical composite score
