Objective:
In this prospective randomized study, the effects of two hernia repair techniques; anterior preperitoneal mesh repair and Lichtenstein procedure, on the testicular blood flow and testicular volume were compared.
Material and Methods:
Forty male patients with the average age of 34.14 (range 20-45) who were admitted to the Clinics of General Surgery with inguinal hernia were evaluated. The patients were randomized, and divided into two equal groups; the 1st and the 2nd group had their hernia repair by anterior preperitoneal mesh repair technique, and Lichtenstein procedure, respectively. All of the prosthetic materials used for hernia repair were composed of polipropilene (Prolene™ Mesh - Ethicon Inc). Testicular volume, testicular blood flow, venous radius within the plexus pampiniformis, radius of epididymal duct, were considered to be the comparative criteria, and were measured in the pre-operative period, at the end of the 1st and 6th post-operative months.
Results:
There were no statistically significant differences between pre-operative and post-operative values. Moreover, both surgical techniques were found to have similar post-operative results.
Conclusion:
The utilization of prosthetic material or the technique used for hernia repair does not seem to interfere with the structural or functional integrity of the spermatic cord.
Keywords: Inguinal hernia, anterior preperitoneal mesh, Lichtenstein repair, testicular blood flow, testicular volume