INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES IN OPEN VERSUS LAPAROSCOPIC HERNIORRHAPHY

The aim of this study is to verify whether differences could be found or not as concerns of the postoperative surgical stress between the co nventional open herniorrhaphy and laparoscopic herniorrhaphy. We there fore compared the immunological and inflammatory responses to open and laparoscopic procedures in this study. The sex, age, weight, and heig ht characteristics of group 1 (open surgery group) matched those of gr oup 2 (laparoscopic surgery group), and no statistically significant d ifferences were found between them. Nor were there any statistically s ignificant differences in operating time or the postoperative hospital ization. Blood samples were collected preoperatively [postoperative da y (POD) 0], POD 1 and 5, and the following parameters were assessed: t otal leukocyte (WBC) count, including neutrophil and lymphocyte subpop ulations, HLA-DR(+)CD3(+), IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum album in, and body temperature. No differences were detected between two gro ups in leukocyte, neutrophil, or lymphocyte count, HLA-DR(+)CD3(+), IL -6, albumin, or body temperature on any of the postoperative days. The only statistically significant difference was a higher CRP value in t he laparoscopy group than the open group only on POD 1 (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that the laparoscopic approach appears to offer no ad vantages over the open approach to herniorrhaphy from the standpoint o f immunological and inflammatory responses.