Effect of Biologic vs Synthetic Mesh on Chronic Pain After Laparoscopic Repair of Contralateral Asymptomatic Hernia in Patients With Unilateral Symptomatic Inguinal Hernia

Brief summary (from the registry)

Inguinal hernia is one of the most common conditions in general surgery. In clinical practice, surgeons frequently face a dilemma: during the evaluation of a patient with unilateral symptomatic inguinal hernia, a contralateral asymptomatic defect is discovered-either preoperatively on physical examination or intraoperatively during laparoscopy. The question then becomes: how should this incidental finding be managed? Epidemiological data show that the incidence of such contralateral asymptomatic hernias can be as high as 20%. The management strategy for these hernias has changed considerably over time. Although traditional "watchful waiting" was once widely adopted, long-term follow-up studies have demonstrated that approximately 70% of asymptomatic patients eventually require surgery due to symptom progression, and increasing age is associated with higher surgical risks. Consequently, with the widespread adoption of laparoscopic techniques, simultaneous repair of asymptomatic hernias during the initial surgery has become a common clinical choice. However, this decision raises a critical question: how can the surgeon balance the need to repair the existing anatomical defect against the risk of introducing new long-term complications from the intervention? This makes the choice of repair material particularly important. Currently, synthetic polypropylene meshes, with their proven effectiveness in reducing recurrence rates, are considered the gold standard for inguinal hernia repair. However, as permanent implants, they may be associated with long-term complications-chronic postoperative pain and foreign body sensation, which affect patients' long-term quality of life. Biologic meshes offer a different option. Derived from decellularized extracellular matrix, they are designed as temporary scaffolds that guide autologous tissue regeneration and ultimately degrade. Theoretically, this avoids a permanent foreign body reaction and may reduce long-term discomfort. Neverth…

Study details

Official title

Effect of Biologic vs Synthetic Mesh on Chronic Pain After Laparoscopic Repair of Contralateral Asymptomatic Hernia in Patients With Unilateral Symptomatic Inguinal Hernia: a Multicenter, Single-blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions

• Hernia Inguinal
• Biologic Mesh

Interventions

• Device: Biologic Mesh
• Device: Synthetic Mesh

Sponsor

Xiangya Hospital of Central South University

Collaborators

Xiangtan Central Hospital; Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University

Start date

2026-06

Primary completion

2027-12

Sex

All

Age range

from 18 Years to 80 Years

Results posted

No results posted in this snapshot

Countries

China

Total sites listed

1

Eligibility criteria