Application of Lichtenstein technique for the treatment of inguinal hernias

Abstract

Objective: to describe the results with the use of the Lichtenstein technique in the treatment of patients with inguinal hernia. Materials and methods: observational, descriptive, retrospective study in patients operated on for inguinal hernias, in the Segunda Cátedra de Clínica Quirúrgica, using the Lichtenstein technique, in the period from February 2015 to January 2020. Results: of the 495 patients, 405 were men and 90 women, with an average age of 51 years (range 19 to 86 years). The vast majority were primary hernias (91.5%), much less recurrent or complex. The predominant location was on the right side (48.5%), and 13% were bilateral. Elective surgery was performed under spinal anesthesia in 475 patients and general in 20, with an average surgical time of 90 minutes. 93% were treated as an outpatient basis with an average hospital stay of 16 hours. The rate of postoperative complications was 4.2%, being seromas and hematomas the most frequent complications. We registered 3 cases of hernia recurrences (0.6%). Conclusion: applying the Lichtenstein technique, it was possible to perform outpatient surgery in more than 90% of the cases, with a low rate of complications and hernia recurrence.