Those who never had an inguinal hernia repair often think that it’s just an insignificant little surgery. Those of us who had can testify that postop inguinal hernias hurt like the Dickens. The latest news from Covidien, the manufacturer of self-fixating Parietex ProGrip mesh, is that surgery with the device results in significantly reduced postoperative pain, thanks to the absence of nasty abdominal wall sutures:
At the time of this interim data analysis, 390 patients had been randomized and followed for three months at nine international centers. Ultimately, 600 patients will be enrolled into the study and followed for a year.
To perform the Lichtenstein method, surgeons suture a mesh patch over the hernial opening to reduce weakness in the abdominal wall. This technique is associated with a 4% hernia recurrence rate after five years2, and 6% of patients continue to experience severe chronic pain three years after the procedure.3 Parietex ProGrip self-fixating mesh has small, absorbable, polylactic acid grips on one side to secure immediate fixation to the abdominal wall, eliminating the need to suture the mesh into place.
The study protocol allowed surgeons to position the Parietex ProGrip self-fixating mesh with one stitch of absorbable suture. Of the 193 patients who received Parietex ProGrip self-fixating mesh, 69% had it placed without a suture. When compared to the baseline, the pain was significantly reduced at one and three months for the patients without fixation compared to patients receiving the single stitch.
Press release: Covidien Announces Interim Data Showing Parietex ProGrip™ Self-Fixating Mesh Significantly Reduces Early Pain Following Inguinal Hernia Repair …
Product page: ProGrip …