Surgical outcomes of Lichtenstein tension-free hernioplasty for acutely incarcerated inguinal hernia

Purpose. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term outcomes of emergency Lichtenstein tension-free hernioplasty for acutely incarcerated inguinal hernia. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent emergency Lichtenstein hernioplasty for acutely incarcerated inguinal hernia between September 2002 and January 2006 in a major city hospital in Thailand. We analyzed the early postoperative complications and surgical outcomes. Results. All 24 patients were men, with a mean age of 53.8 ± 19.2 years (range 19–77). There was no perioperative mortality and only two postoperative complications (8.3%): a subcutaneous fl uid collection, which resolved spontaneously within 2 weeks; and a superfi cial surgical site infection, which was treated successfully by intravenous antibiotics. The hospital stay was 3.8 ± 2.1 days (range 2–12). All patients attended regular follow-up visits (mean 20.2 ± 10.7 months, range 3–43). Clinical recurrence was found in one patient (4.2%), 7 months postoperatively. Conclusion. Lichtenstein hernioplasty can be used effectively as an emergency operation for incarcerated inguinal hernia with a good outcome and an acceptably low rate of postoperative complications.