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Outcomes of surgery on patients with a clinically inapparent inguinal hernia as diagnosed by ultrasonography

Hernia volume 22, pages 525–531 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Chronic post-operative inguinal pain (CPIP) is the most significant complication following inguinal hernia repair. Patients without a palpable hernia prior to surgery seemed to report more CPIP. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of surgery on patients with a clinically inapparent inguinal hernia as diagnosed using ultrasonography.

Methods

A total of 179 hernia repairs in patients with a positive ultrasonography but negative physical examination were analysed retrospectively. Patients with recurrent hernias, femoral hernias or previous surgery to the inguinal canal were excluded. The primary outcome was the presence of chronic postoperative inguinal pain (pain > 3 months postoperatively). Data on preoperative complaints, surgical technique and findings during ultrasonography and surgery were also studied in relation to the development of CPIP.

Results

A quarter (25.1%) of the patients reported chronic postoperative pain. Female gender (p = 0.03), high BMI (p = 0.04) and atypical symptoms prior to surgery (p < 0.001) were significant univariate risk factors for developing CPIP. Logistic regression showed a significant association between atypical symptoms and CPIP [OR = 6.31, p < 0.001, 95% CI (2.32, 17.16)], which was still present after correction for the significant univariate variables [OR = 4.23, p = 0.02, 95% CI (1.26, 14.21)].

Conclusion

Patients with a clinically inapparent inguinal hernia as diagnosed using ultrasonography report a high incidence of CPIP after elective hernia repair. Patients with atypical groin pain prior to surgery are especially prone to CPIP. It is questionable whether these hernias should be classified and treated as symptomatic inguinal hernias. The results advocate taking other causes of groin pain into consideration before choosing surgical treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Hernia Centre Brabant, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital (ETZ), Hilvarenbeekseweg 60, 5022 GC, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    L. van Hout, W. J. V. Bökkerink, M. S. Ibelings, J. Heisterkamp & P. W. H. E. Vriens

  2. Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    W. J. V. Bökkerink

Authors
  1. L. van Hout
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  2. W. J. V. Bökkerink
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  3. M. S. Ibelings
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  4. J. Heisterkamp
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  5. P. W. H. E. Vriens
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. van Hout.

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LvH declares no conflict of interest. WB declares no conflict of interest. MI declares no conflict of interest. JH declares no conflict of interest. PV declares no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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van Hout, L., Bökkerink, W.J.V., Ibelings, M.S. et al. Outcomes of surgery on patients with a clinically inapparent inguinal hernia as diagnosed by ultrasonography. Hernia 22, 525–531 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-018-1744-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-018-1744-x

Keywords

  • Inguinal hernia
  • Chronic postoperative inguinal pain
  • Ultrasound
  • Clinically inapparent