Four-arm randomized trial comparing laparoscopic and open hernia repairs

AbstractAimTo compare four approaches in primary repair of inguinal hernia as regards operative and postoperative outcome.MethodsOne hundred consecutive patients with primary inguinal hernia Nyhus I–III were randomized into four groups. Group I had open pro-peritoneal repair, group II had Lichtenstein tension-free mesh repair, group III had Transabdominal pro-peritoneal (TAPP) repair while group IV had laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair.ResultsOperative time ranged from 10.71 to 120.61min. Laparoscopic operations were significantly longer than open operations (54.5+13.2, 34.21+23.5 versus 96.12+22.5, 77.4+43.21; t=3.891, p