Groin hernia and surgical truth

BACKGROUND: Surgeons have used many methods to repair groin hernia since 1889. In that year, both Halsted and Bassini described the first effective operation. All operative solutions to groin hernia since then have used a suture repair. The differences have been related to the anatomic structures that are joined by the sutures. Recently, laparoscopy has forced most surgeons to question their approach to groin hernia. Common questions are: Is laparoscopy superior? When should mesh be used? Which of the many available techniques give superior results? DATA SOURCES: This review presents an opinion-based review of the classical and recent literature. In addition, this review considers the manner in which surgeons search for answers to such questions. CONCLUSION: The result of this search, for the author, is an acceptance of the mesh plug repair as superior to all others currently available. (C) 1998 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.