Recovery is quicker after laparoscopic hernia repair---but there is a cost

Repair of inguinal hernias is one of the most common surgical procedures. Surgeons are increasingly using a preformed synthetic mesh to cover the inguinal defect. On p 103 Wellwood et al evaluate the costs and outcomes (both clinical and patient based) of open and laparoscopic mesh repair in a randomised controlled trial of 400 patients. Patients undergoing laparoscopic hernia repair recovered faster and experienced less pain than patients who underwent standard open mesh repair. The laparoscopic procedure, however, was more costly.


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Relevant Article

Randomised controlled trial of laparoscopic versus open mesh repair for inguinal hernia: outcome and cost
James Wellwood, Mark J Sculpher, David Stoker, Graham J Nicholls, Cathy Geddes, Anne Whitehead, Rameet Singh, and David Spiegelhalter
BMJ 1998 317: 103-110. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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