Porcine skin inguinal hernioplasty.
Sixty inguinal hernias were repaired using a porcine dermis to reinforce the posterior wall of the inguinal canal. This study mentions the criteria for the use of this xenograft and the technique used. A follow-up of two years is reported without any recurrences so far. An average patient has a 10 to 15 per cent risk of recurrence after an operation for indirect hernia and about 20 per cent after direct hernioplasty. It has been reported that 50 per cent of the recurrences appear during the first year post-operative period, and most of these in the first three to six months. Although inguinal hernia is one of the most common conditions encountered by a general surgeon, no prospective randomised study has yet been undertaken to evaluate the most widely used techniques. Many operative procedures for the treatment of inguinal hernias have been reported since Bassini and Halstead first reported upon this 90 years ago. While the late results of many methods have been presented, there is no unanimity concerning the procedure of choice. Recurrence rates differ according to the technique used and the expertise of the operating surgeon. Porcine dermis was used as it is the best available biological material. It does not have the problem of rejection and fragmentation like other prostheses.