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Antisperm antibodies and testicular blood flow after inguinal hernia mesh repair

Surgical Endoscopy volume 28, pages 3413–3420 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Testicular flow studies after hernia mesh repair mostly showed different outcomes. The reason of infertility in some men after hernia repair is immunological factors. Aim of the study was to investigate the influence of mesh hernia repair on antisperm antibodies production and testicular blood flow and a connection among these parameters.

Materials and methods

A prospective interventional longitudinal cohort study was made on 82 male patients without exclusion criteria who had an inguinal hernia. Patients underwent laparoscopic TAPP or open tension-free hernia repair. Vascular ultrasound and antisperm antibodies were measured in the preoperative and postoperative periods. Main outcome measures were resistive index (RI), peak systolic velocity (PSV) cm/s, and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) cm/s in testicular blood flow measurement and the quantitative value of antisperm antibodies (ASA) in serum (IU/ml).

Results

ASA significantly increased postoperatively only in patients who underwent open tension-free hernia repair (p < 0.001). ASA stayed in normal range in all patients except the one with postoperative complication. Friedman analysis showed significant change of the RI only on intratesticular (p < 0.001) and capsular artery level (0.02) in patients who underwent laparoscopic technique. PSV significantly changed on intratesticular (p < 0.001) and capsular artery level (p = 0.015) in the laparoscopic hernia repair. PSV showed significant change on intratesticular (p < 0.001) and testicular artery levels (p < 0.001) in the open tension-free hernia repair. EDV showed significant change only on testicular artery level (p = 0.032) in the patients who had open tension-free hernia repair. These blood flow parameters significantly increased in the early postoperative period and returned on basal value in the late postoperative period. Parameters of flow did not show any significant correlation with ASA.

Conclusion

Mesh hernia repairs without complication caused only a transitory change in testicular blood flow and no clinical significant autoimmune reaction.

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Disclosures

Dr. Ivana Štula, Dr. Nikica Družijanić, Mrs. Ada Sapunar, Dr. Zdravko Perko.Mrs. Nada Bošnjak and Dr. Damir Kraljević have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Split, Split, Croatia

    Ivana Štula

  2. Surgery, University Hospital Split, Split, Croatia

    Nikica Družijanić, Zdravko Perko & Damir Kraljević

  3. Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, University Hospital Split, Split, Croatia

    Ada Sapunar & Nada Bošnjak

Authors
  1. Ivana Štula
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  2. Nikica Družijanić
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  3. Ada Sapunar
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Correspondence to Ivana Štula.

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Štula, I., Družijanić, N., Sapunar, A. et al. Antisperm antibodies and testicular blood flow after inguinal hernia mesh repair. Surg Endosc 28, 3413–3420 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-014-3614-7

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Keywords

  • Vascular (blood vessels)
  • Hernia
  • Immune system