Sutureless Inguinal Hernia Repair Techniques: A Comparison Between Laparoscopic and Open Methods

Background: The study is designed to compare laparoscopic and anterior sutureless techniques for repairing inguinal hernia. Methods: For several years, our group has performed both laparoscopic and anterior sutureless inguinal hernia repairs. This retrospective cohort study analyzed 160 patients with inguinal hernias who underwent sutureless surgical alloplasty between July 2018 and July 2019. Eighty patients were treated laparoscopically (transabdominal preperitoneal approach) with a polypropylene mesh secured with fibrin glue (Tisseel®; Baxter Health, Deerfield, IL). The remaining 80 patients underwent open alloplasty using a preformed double-layered polypropylene mesh (Folded-Mesh; Angiologica, Italy) that did not require suture or glue fixation. Clinical follow-up data were collected for a period of 60 months. Results: The two groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, and ASA score. There was no statistically significant difference in operative time between the laparoscopic and open techniques (34.16 ± 8.50 versus 40.17 ± 7.92 minutes; P > .05). No laparoscopic procedure required conversion to open surgery. No perioperative complications were reported in either group. A significant difference was observed in postoperative neuralgia, with 0 cases in the laparoscopic group versus 8 cases in the open group (P < .05). Persistent pain (lasting more than 6 months) was reported in only 2 patients in the open group (P > .05). Relapse was only observed in the open repair group. Conclusions: Sutureless inguinal hernia repair is a safe and effective procedure with minimal complications. The laparoscopic approach appears to be superior, offering a faster recovery and fewer postoperative issues, making it the preferred choice for sutureless hernia repair.