Tension-free hernia repair is associated with an increase in inflammatory response markers against the mesh

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the involvement of in flammatory mediators in patients undergoing Lichtenstein tension-free herni oplasty (LH) using polypropylene prosthetic materials or conventional Bassi ni hernia repair (BH), METHODS: Thirty patients male with unilateral inguinal hernia without compl ications or recurrence were included in this study. Randomly, patients unde rwent LH or BH, Peripheral venous bloods samples were collected 24 hours pr ior to surgery and then 6, 24, 48 and 168 hours postoperatively, RESULTS: We present evidences that LH patients showed a higher increased se rum level of fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and inter leukin-6 than BH patients. Postoperative visual analogue scales for pain we re reduced on mobilization for patients undergoing LH compared with BH. Neu trophils were significantly increased only in LH compared with baseline. Ce ruloplasmin, transferrin, and albumin levels were unmodified after BH or LH . CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion our data show that although LH induces less pain and more rapid postoperative recovery, it is associated with an higher inf lammatory response compared with BH, likely due to polypropylene mesh, Am J Surg. 2000;180:203-207. (C) 2000 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.