The Evolution of Hernia Repair: From Open Surgery to Advanced Mesh Techniques

Abstract

Background: Hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed surgical
procedures worldwide. Over the decades, significant progress has been made from
conventional open repairs to the adoption of mesh-based techniques, including
laparoscopic approaches, to reduce recurrence and enhance recovery.
Objective: To compare the outcomes of conventional open hernia repair with meshbased techniques, evaluating factors such as operative time, postoperative
complications, hospital stay, and recurrence rates.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over one year (March
2024 to March 2025) at the Department of General Surgery, [Insert Hospital Name],
involving 100 patients undergoing hernia surgery. Patients were grouped based on
the surgical technique used: Group A (open repair) and Group B (mesh-based repair).
Data on demographics, type of hernia, surgical approach, intraoperative findings,
duration of surgery, postoperative complications, and follow-up outcomes at 1, 3, and
6 months were collected and analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: Of the 100 patients, 60% underwent mesh repair and 40% underwent open
repair. Mesh repair was associated with significantly fewer postoperative
complications (26.7% vs 40% in open repair), shorter hospital stays (mean 3.7 ± 1.2
days vs 5.2 ± 1.4 days), and lower recurrence (1.7% vs 7.5%). However, it required a
longer operative time (70 ± 10.4 minutes vs 55 ± 8.2 minutes for open repair).
Conclusion: Mesh-based hernia repair techniques, including laparoscopic
procedures, offer superior clinical outcomes compared to open surgery. These
findings support the growing preference for mesh techniques in elective hernia
repair, though individualized patient selection and surgical expertise remain critical.