Combined transurethral prostatectomy and inguinal hernia repair: a retrospective audit and literature review

Objective To audit the results of combined transurethral resection of the p rostate (TURP) and inguinal hernia repair, often carried out under the same anaesthetic (because bladder outlet obstruction from prostatic disease and inguinal hernia are both common conditions in elderly men), to avoid two s eparate operations. Patients and methods The study included 85 patients who underwent primary i nguinal hernia repair with TURF in the urology unit of Nottingham City hosp ital between 1989 and 1995, and who were recalled to a special clinic. The type of hernia and repair carried out were recorded and complications audit ed with specific reference to recurrence of hernia and wound infection. Results The 85 patients underwent 88 primary inguinal hernia repairs with T URP (three were bilateral). Maloney's darn repair was used on 55 and a Bass ini repair on 33 occasions, respectively. Two patients developed mild wound infection after surgery, but only two patients (2%) had recurrence of hern ia. Conclusions The recurrence rate after primary inguinal herniorraphy with co nventional methods of repair, performed with TURP, was comparable with publ ished results of hernia repairs alone, before the introduction of Lichtenst ein's mesh repair.