The Impact of Open Inguinal Hernia Mesh Repair on Quality of Life

Abstract

Aims:This study aims to evaluate the effect of open inguinal hernia repair with mesh on the quality of life of the patients who were operated at a university hospital. Methods: In this cohort study, 86 patients who had undergone an open inguinal hernia repair at General Surgery Department in a university hospital between January 2017 and October 2019 were asked to fill out the Carolinas Comfort Scale questionnaire and the data were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The total number of patients in the study was 86. Seventy-three were male (84%) and 13 were female (16%). The median age was 53 years ranging from 18 to 82. The difference of pre-and post-operative scores revealed high significance in all categories and in total; laying down, bending over, sitting up, performing activities of daily life, coughing or deep breathing, walking or standing, walking up or down the stairs, exercising and total score. Conclusion: Inguinal hernia decreases the quality of daily life by limiting the movements with groin pain. Surgical low-tension repair with mesh improves the quality of life significantly.