NBCA medical adhesive (n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) versus suture for patch fixation in Lichtenstein inguinal herniorrhaphy: A randomized controlled trial

Background. We compared the effectiveness of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and traditional suture for patch fixation in Lichtenstein tension-free herniorrhaphy for inguinal hernias. Methods. A total of 110 patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were assigned randomly to either experimental or control groups. In the experimental group, NBCA adhesive was used during Lichtenstein herniorrhaphy; traditional suture was used in the control group. We evaluated operation time, postoperative duration of stay, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, incidence of chronic pain and hematoma formation, and hernia recurrence. Results. There was no hernia recurrence or wound infection in either group. In the experimental group, 2 local hematomas occurred while no patients experienced chronic postoperative pain; in the control group, 10 hematomas occurred, and 6 patients experienced chronic pain. There was no difference in postoperative duration of stay between the groups (P > .05), but the experimental group had a lesser operation time and postoperative VAS score (P < .05). Conclusion. The use of NBCA medical adhesive in tension-free inguinal herniorrhaphy is effective and safe. (Surgery 2012;151:550-5.)