Long-term results of a randomized clinical trial of Shouldice, Lichtenstein and transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repairs. Longterm followup (12-15 years) of a randomized controlled trial comparing Bassini-Stetten, Shouldice, and high ligation with narrowing of the internal ring for primary inguinal hernia repair. Shouldice's herniorrhaphy versus Moloney's darn herniorrhaphy in young patients (a prospective randomised study). A randomized controlled trial for inguinal hernia repair to compare the Shouldice and the Bassini-Kirschner operation. Prospective randomized trial comparing Shouldice and Bassini-Kirschner operation technique in primary inguinal hernia repair. Prospective randomized trial comparing the Shouldice technique and plication darn for inguinal hernia. Randomized trial of Lichtenstein versus Shouldice hernia repair in general surgical practice. A prospective trial of primary inguinal hernia repair by surgical trainees. Randomized trial of modified Bassini versus Shouldice inguinal hernia repair. The Cologne Hernia Study Group. Short-term outcome after mesh or shouldice herniorrhaphy: a randomized, prospective study. Prospective randomized study comparing laparoscopic and open tension-free inguinal hernia repair with Shouldice's operation. Randomised study of Lichtenstein compared with Shouldice inguinal hernia repair by surgeons in training. Shouldice inguinal hernia repair in the male adult: the gold standard? A multicenter controlled trial in 1578 patients. Shouldice is superior to Bassini inguinal herniorrhaphy. Prospective randomized comparison of the Shouldice and Lichtenstein hernia repair procedures.
There is an ongoing debate about the preferred technique for inguinal hernia repair. In this randomized study the long-term results of Shouldice, Lichtenstein and transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) hernia repair were compared.
                Some 280 men with a primary hernia were randomized prospectively to undergo Shouldice, tension-free Lichtenstein or laparoscopic TAPP repair. Patients were examined after 52 months to assess hernia recurrence, nerve damage, testicular atrophy and patient satisfaction.
                Hernia recurrence occurred in six patients after Shouldice repair, and in one patient each after Lichtenstein and TAPP repairs. All recurrences after tension-free repairs were diagnosed within the first year after surgery. Nerve injuries were significantly more frequent after open Shouldice and Lichtenstein repairs. Patient satisfaction was greatest after laparoscopic TAPP repair.
                Tension-free repair was superior to the non-mesh Shouldice technique. The open anterior approach to the groin was associated with demonstrable nerve injury, and laparoscopic TAPP repair was the most effective approach in the hands of an experienced surgeon. Shouldice repair for primary inguinal hernia is reported to have better results than classic Bassini-type repairs. The indirect inguinal hernia with a firm posterior wall is often assumed to be adequately treated by high ligation and ring narrowing.
                This double randomized controlled trial compared high ligation and ring narrowing with Bassini-Stetten repair for the indirect inguinal hernia with a firm posterior wall, and Shouldice with Bassini-Stetten repair for the inguinal hernia with a weakened posterior wall, direct or indirect. This report focuses on longterm (12-15 years) recurrence rates.
                From July 1980 to May 1983, 102 indirect primary inguinal hernias with a firm posterior wall (group I) and 263 primary inguinal hernias with a weakened posterior wall (group II) were included. By 1995, 89 patients with 100 hernia repairs had died, and for 30 repairs the patients could not be located. In 41 hernia repairs, a recurrence had been established previously. Of the remaining 194 hernia repairs, followup was updated by physical examination in 179 (92%) and by telephone interview in 15 (8%). A total of 83 recurrences were recorded, 42% of which were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Seventy-three percent of the recurrences happened > 2 years after the operation. The life-table method showed the following longterm (12-15 years) recurrence rates: group I, Bassini-Stetten 33% versus ring narrowing 34%; group II, Bassini-Stetten 32% versus Shouldice 15% (p = 0.033).
                The Shouldice is the best type of hernia repair, although the 15% recurrence rate is high. Bassini-Stetten and high ligation with ring narrowing are inadequate repairs, regardless of the type of hernia. Shouldice's repair (SR) and Moloney's darn repair (DR) are commonly practised repairs for hernias in the young age group with acceptably low recurrence rates. The SR is considered technically challenging and difficult, while the DR is gaining popularity in recent years. Therefore, there is a need to compare these repairs.
                To compare these techniques a total of 50 cases (age group 18-40 years) were randomised to two groups (SR 25, DR 25). These were well matched for age, the side and the type of hernia. Both groups were studied with respect to operative time; postoperative pain at 6,12 and 24 hours (evaluated by pain scale 1-10) need for analgesia, ambulation (evaluated by a four-point scale), complications and return to work.
                The SR required a longer time (average 81 minutes) compared to DR (average 43 minutes). Patients undergoing SR complained of pain of a higher scale at 6, 12 and 24 hours post surgery and had a significant higher need for analgesia on day 1 and 2 (p < 0.05). Ambulation grades were significantly better in the DR group on the first postoperative day (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the two groups with respect to postoperative complications, return to work, and recurrences rate (2-year follow-up).
                The SR and DR are comparable for young patients having a primary hernia. However, DR is superior in terms of the time taken, post-operative pain, need for analgesia and early ambulation. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 142 adult male and female patients for primary inguinal hernias by the Shouldice or the Bassini-Kirschner surgical technique. Follow-up after one year revealed 7 recurrences out of 72 patients having had Bassini-Kirschner's operation and three recurrences out of 70 patients having had Shouldice's operation (p = 0.326, NS). Six patients died during the follow-up period and two were lost to the study. At two years follow-up examination nine recurrences out of 63 patients having had Bassini-Kirschner's operation and seven recurrences out of 65 patients having had Shouldice's operation were found (p = 0.792, NS). Both operations gave the same results when performed by either a consultant surgeon or a surgeon in training. The complication rate was high but similar for both techniques (18%). Although surgical literature abounds with excellent low recurrence rates using the Shouldice surgical technique, we were unable to reproduce these results. This might be due to lack of experience. The authors conducted a prospective randomized trial to compare the Shouldice and the Bassini-Kirschner technique between April, 1994 and December, 1995. During this period 129 adult patients, mean age 54 (17-87) years underwent operation on primary inguinal hernias in their department. 63 Shouldice and 66 Bassini-Kirschner operations were performed by 17 surgeons. The duration of surgery, the technique of anesthesia, the perioperative complications, the duration of postoperative care, then one year after the operation the recurrence rate and the patient's subjective complains were investigated. 85 patients of 129 were examined one year after the operation in spite of that all the patients were invited for control. Both operations gave almost the same results in the perioperative period and nearly identical recurrence rate (4.44% in Shouldice and 5.0% in Bassini-Kirschner group). The patient's subjective complains were also very similar one year after the operation. The authors could not find significant difference in the results of the two types of surgery although they were well experienced with the Bassini-Kirschner operation and just starting to practice the Shouldice procedure. These facts suggest that having more experience with the Shouldice operation makes available the extreme low recurrence rate published by several authors. The lowest recurrence rates after inguinal hernia repair have been achieved by specialized hernia clinics. The Shouldice repair achieves success through application of a meticulous standardized operation carried out by specialist hernia surgeons. In a trial designed to rule out surgeon-dependent variables, 322 inguinal hernias were randomized prospectively to Shouldice repair or plication darn. Fifteen general surgeons operated on 322 patients. Fourteen surgeons in training not familiar with Shouldice repair received constant supervision for six repairs before independent operation. The mean (s.d.) patient age was 58.3(1.5) (range 20-84) years for Shouldice repair and 57.0(1.2) (range 18-85 years) for plication darn. The sex ratio (M:F) was 17:1 and right side to left side ratio 1.8:1. Six-week complication rates for wound infection (Shouldice repair, 5 per cent; plication darn, 4 per cent) and haematoma (Shouldice repair, 7 per cent; plication darn, 5 per cent) were similar in both groups. There were a similar number of sliding hernias in the Shouldice repair (14) and plication darn (20) groups. After a mean follow-up of 30 (range 24-48) months there were seven recurrences in the Shouldice group and four in the plication darn group (P > 0.05). The recurrences suggest that additional supervision of junior surgeons is required during the Shouldice repair learning period. The aim of the present randomized trial was to compare the Shouldice procedure and the Lichtenstein hernia repair with respect to recurrence rate, technical difficulty, convalescence and chronic pain. A further aim was to determine to what extent general surgeons in routine surgical practice were able to reproduce the excellent results reported from specialist hernia centres.
                Three hundred patients with primary inguinal hernia were randomized to either a Shouldice repair or to a tension-free Lichtenstein repair. In a pretrial training programme the five participating general surgeons were taught to perform the two techniques in a standard manner. Follow-up was performed after 8 weeks, 1 year and 3 years. The last examination was performed by an independent blinded assessor.
                There was a significant difference in operating time in favour of the Lichtenstein technique. After a follow-up of 36-77 months seven recurrences were found in the Shouldice group (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 1.3 to 8.1) and one in the mesh group (95 per cent c.i. 0.0 to 2.0). Chronic groin pain was reported by 4.2 and 5.6 per cent in the Shouldice and Lichtenstein groups respectively. It was characterized as mild or moderate in all except two patients who had the Shouldice operation.
                Lichtenstein hernia repair was easier to learn, took less time and resulted in fewer recurrences. It was possible to achieve excellent results with this technique in a general surgical unit. The main hypotheses were that the Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair has a lower recurrence rate and similar incidence of chronic groin pain compared to sutured repairs when performed by surgical trainees. In a U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital, 150 primary hernia repairs were randomized to a Lichtenstein, McVay, or Shouldice repair. The Shouldice repair included a routine relaxing incision. First- and second-year residents, under the supervision of an experienced general surgeon, performed the procedure. Long-term follow-up was obtained in 81% of patients. Hernia recurrence rate was Lichtenstein 8%, McVay 10%, Shouldice 5% ( P>0.1) at 6-9 years follow-up. More patients had chronic groin pain following Lichtenstein repair (38%) than after Shouldice repair (7%) ( P<0.05). More information is needed on long-term groin pain following anterior mesh repair. The Shouldice inguinal hernia repair may have a role in open primary herniorrhaphy to decrease the risk of chronic groin pain. Between 1986 and 1992, 265 men of mean age 51 (range 16-75) years with a primary inguinal hernia were randomized to undergo surgery by staff surgeon or surgical resident and further randomized to receive a modified Bassini operation (transversalis fascia not divided but included in the repair) or Shouldice procedure. The follow-up rate was 92.1 per cent with a mean follow-up of 3.3 years. Recurrence developed in 12 of 125 patients with a Bassini procedure and two of 119 after a Shouldice repair (9.6 versus 1.7 per cent, P = 0.006). The recurrence rate was no different for staff surgeons and trainees (5.9 versus 5.6 per cent, P not significant). Multivariate analysis identified the presence of a direct hernia (P = 0.003) as the additional main factor for the development of recurrence. Retrospective analyses have shown that long-term recurrence rates after Lichtenstein mesh and Shouldice herniorrhaphies are low. Therefore differences in short-term outcome may be important determinants of one's choice of repair. Although proponents of the mesh repair claim that their methods is less morbid, to our knowledge no prospective comparative studies of short-term morbidity have been reported.
                One hundred five adult patients were randomized to undergo either a mesh or Shouldice inguinal hernia repair. Postoperative pain, narcotic use, and time to resumption of usual activities and employment were recorded. Patients were blinded to the type of repair received until all data were collected.
                There was no difference between the herniorrhaphy methods with respect to postoperative pain, duration of narcotic use, and time to resumption of usual activity and employment. Recovery was rapid for both groups of patients. By 3 days after operation, 50% of patients rated their pain as very mild or less and no longer required narcotic analgesics. Patients in both groups returned to usual activity and work by a median of 9 days after operation.
                Both of these well-established methods can be used to repair inguinal hernias with local anesthetics in an outpatient setting with minimal morbidity. Despite the "tension-free" design of the mesh repair, short-term outcomes of mesh and Shouldice repairs of inguinal hernias do not differ. Although tension-free techniques of hernia repair using synthetic meshes revealed encouraging results, the best method of inguinal hernia repair is still unclear.
                In a prospective randomized phase-II-B study, early postoperative results of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (n = 80), open plug and patch repair (n = 80), and Shouldice's operation (n = 80) were compared. Postoperative pain and patient's comfort were defined as main endpoints.
                The laparoscopic approach had significantly longer operation time and was more expensive (61 +/- 12 minutes; $1,211) than plug and patch repair (36 +/- 14 minutes; $124) and Shouldice's operation (47 +/- 17 minutes; $69). Main postoperative complications were wound hematomas, seromas, and superficial wound infection, without significant difference between the groups. Postoperative pain, analgesia requirements, limitation of daily activities, and return to work did not differ between laparoscopic and open tension-free repair but were significantly lower in both groups compared with Shouldice's operation. So far, no recurrence was observed after a mean follow-up of 25 months.
                Open plug and patch repair is a promising technique of hernia repair in adults, because it offers the same excellent patient comfort as the laparoscopic repair but is less expensive and can be performed under local anesthesia. To compare the outcome following Lichtenstein open mesh technique or Shouldice repair for inguinal hernia operated on by surgeons in training.
                Prospective, randomised, trial.
                District hospital, Sweden.
                200 men with primary inguinal hernias.
                Lichtenstein mesh repair or Shouldice repair.
                Duration of operation, postoperative pain assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), complications within 30 days, duration of sick leave, and recurrence within one year.
                178 patients were available for evaluation (n = 89 in each group). There were no significant differences in duration of operation, pain score, or incidence of postoperative complications. Patients in the mesh group took significantly less sick leave (mean 18.2 days) than those in the Shouldice group (23.8 days, p<0.05). The number of recurrences differed significantly between the groups with 9 in the Shouldice group and none in the mesh group (p<0.01).
                For surgeons in training the Lichtenstein open mesh technique is a better method of inguinal hernia repair than the Shouldice technique. The outcome is better for the patients and it is more cost-effective. Hernia repair is the second most frequently performed operation in France and in the United States, the prevalence being 36 for every 1000 males. Lowering the recurrence rate by 1% would mean 1000 fewer operations for hernia repair per year in France.
                Between 1983 and 1989, 1578 adult males with a total of 1706 nonrecurrent inguinal hernias were prospectively and randomly allotted to undergo either a Bassini's repair, Cooper's ligament, or Shouldice repair with polypropylene or a Shouldice repair with stainless steel for determination of which technique was associated with the lowest recurrence rate. Fifty-nine hernia repairs were withdrawn after inclusion. Of the 1647 remaining hernias, 52.2% were indirect, 25.6% were direct, and 23.2% were combined. Patients were seen every 6 months for 3 years and then every year. Median follow-up was 5 years 8 months (range, 3 months-8.5 years).
                At 8.5 years, 5.6% of hernias were lost to follow-up. Ninety-seven hernia repairs failed, 50% during the first 2 years. The actuarial recurrence rate was 7.94% at 8.5 years. The Shouldice repair (stainless steel or polypropylene) was associated with fewer recurrences (6.1%) than either the Bassini's (8.6%) or Cooper's ligament repair (11.2%) technique (p < 0.001). This difference remained significant even when the maximal bias test was used. Fewer recurrences (5.9%) were observed with the stainless steel wire Shouldice repair than with polypropylene version (6.5%), but the difference was not significant.
                Shouldice hernia repair provides the patient with the best chances of nonrecurrence regardless of the anatomical type of hernia. The Shouldice hernia repair should be the gold standard for inguinal hernia repair in men and serves as the basis for comparison with all other techniques, be they prosthetic or laparoscopic. The original Bassini and Shouldice methods for inguinal herniorrhaphy were tested against each other and against their respective variants that avoid permanent suturing of the internal oblique muscle. Seven hundred fifty inguinal hernia repairs were prospectively allocated to 1 of 4 groups: group A: Bassini with absorbable sutures (polyglycolic acid); group B: Bassini with nonabsorbable sutures (polyester); group C: Shouldice with four rows of polypropylene sutures; and group D: Shouldice with two rows of polypropylene sutures. Outcome was correlated to prospectively defined types and risk factors such as direct hernia, repair for recurrent hernia, hernial sac diameter greater than 8 cm, age greater than 70 years, overweight, and chronic bronchitis. Actual (not actuarial) recurrence rates were determined through clinical examination by hospital staff surgeons (not through information by letter or phone) for 93.6% of surviving patients. Local complications exclusive of recurrence, but including the redoubtable and litigious sequelae of testicular atrophy and chronic ilioinguinal pain, were significantly reduced from 6.3% (group B and C) to 2.3% by omitting permanent muscle sutures (groups A and D; P < 0.05). However, the use of slowly absorbable suture material resulted in a disproportionately high recurrence rate of 12.8% in the modified Bassini group A. The original Bassini method, ie, division of the transversalis fascia and repair with nonabsorbable sutures, as was used in group B, had an actual 2-year recurrence rate of 8.7%, still a highly significant difference compared with 3.6% and 2.3% for Shouldice groups C and D, respectively (P = 0.012). For repair of recurrent hernia, the superiority of the Shouldice technique was not statistically significant: re-recurrence rate 7.6% versus 13.5% for the original Bassini group B. Repair of recurrent hernia was the only patient-related risk factor of equal significance as the method of repair. The Shouldice technique is superior to and more than merely a reinvention of Bassini's original method. The omission of muscle sutures is physiologically sound and recommended for the Shouldice operation. To compare the Lichtenstein, tension-free mesh, and the Shouldice, 4-layer Bassini repair of the inguinal hernia.
                Prospective randomized clinical trial.
                A private suburban hernia center.
                Six hundred seventy-two men with inguinal hernias, aged 20 to 90 years, seen at the hernia center between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 1995.
                Slightly modified Shouldice and Lichtenstein repairs were used to repair primary and recurrent inguinal hernias.
                Recurrence rates, symptoms (including patient satisfaction), and infections.
                A total of 717 repairs in 672 patients, including 45 bilateral repairs, have been monitored to date. Recurrence of hernia occurred in 7 Shouldice repairs and 2 mesh repairs. Twelve superficial infections associated with Shouldice and 6 associated with mesh repairs were found.
                Both types of hernia repair are comparable and effective, but long-term results favor the Lichtenstein technique for reducing recurrences (to a P value of .10), ease of technical mastery, and application to the outpatient setting by use of a local anesthetic.