LONG TERM SURGICAL RESULTS AND QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR (TAPP): A PROSPECTIVE, CASE CONTROL STUDY COMPARING STANDARD HEAVYWEIGHT AND SELFGRIPPING (PROGRIP) MESH

Abstract Aim Aim of this study is to compare long term results of efficacy, recurrence and quality of life in patients submitted to TAPP for inguinal hernia repair with standard Heavyweight or Selfgripping mesh. Material and Methods A prospective case control study was conducted at single third referral center. The study included adult patients submitted to TAPP, of both sex, with primary and recurrent, unilateral and bilateral inguinal hernia. Patients received non-fixated standard heavyweight meshes (HW) or PROGRIP self gripping mesh (PG), their data were entered in EuraHS platform and the EuraHS Quality of life (QOL) questionnaire was administered before and 1 year after surgery. Primary outcome of the study is to compare long term QOL before and after surgery in HW vs PG group. Secondary outcome is perioperative morbidity and 12 months recurrence assessed with PINQ questionnaire. Results Between 2016 and 2020, 100 patients of both sexes (10 female) were enrolled, 50 in HW group and 50 in PG group. The two groups were comparable preoperatively. After 12 months no cases of CPIP were observed and there wasn’t differences in QOL reported by patients, although in both groups there was an improvement of pain, movement limitations and esthetical discomfort after surgery. None recurrence and overall only 4 cases of complications (1 hematoma and 1 seroma for each group) were registered. Conclusions Selfgripping Mesh for laparoscopic hernia repair has produced results equal to standard of care meshes in term of recurrence rate, early morbidity and postoperative quality of life of patients.