Abstract
Aim: To compare Desarda's versus Lichtenstein's repair in patients with unilateral, primary, reducible inguinal hernia in terms of mean operative time and seroma formation.
Methods: This randomized control trial conducted at Department of Surgery, Sharif Medical & Dental College, Lahore. Two hundred patients with unilateral, primary, reducible inguinal hernia were randomly distributed in to two groups to undergo hernia repair i.e. Lichtenstein and Desarda's. Outcome was measured in terms of mean operative time and seroma formation. Seroma formation was defined as presence of enclosed cavity containing serous fluid determined by ultrasonography at 30th post-operative day.
Results: Eighty three patients (41.5%) were above 50 years of age or whereas remaining 117 patients (58.5%) were below 50 years of age. Seventy nine patients (39.5%) were female and 121 patients (60.5%) were male. Seroma formation was 6% in Desarda's group while 10% in Lichtenstein group (P>0.05). Similarly difference in mean operative time was statistically non-significant. Seroma formation was common in older age group. There was no effect of smoking, obesity and gender on seroma formation or operative time.
Conclusion: It is concluded that there is no difference in frequency of seroma formation and mean operative time in Desarda's or Lichtenstein's technique of hernia repair.