Postoperative Analgesics Score As a Predictor of Chronic Postoperative Inguinal Pain After Inguinal Hernia Repair: Lessons Learned From a Retrospective Analysis

Overview

Journal World J Surg

Publisher Wiley

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2023 May 29

PMID 37248322

Authors

A Widder

L Reese

J F Lock

A Wiegering

C-T Germer

G-K Kindl

H L Rittner

U Dietz

J Doerfer

N Schlegel

M Meir

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Chronic postoperative inguinal pain (CPIP) is a common complication after inguinal hernia surgery and occurs in up to 10-14% of cases. CPIP has a significant impact on daily life, work ability and thus compromises quality of life. The aim of this retrospective study was an in-depth analysis of patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair to further refine the prediction of the onset of CPIP reliably.

Methods: A single center retrospective analysis of patients with who underwent open or minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair from 2016 to 2021 was carried out. Complication rates, detailed analysis of postoperative pain medication and quality of life using the EuraHS Quality of Life questionnaire were assessed.

Results: Out of 596 consecutive procedures, 344 patients were included in detailed analyses. While patient cohorts were different in terms of age and co-morbidities, and the prevalence of CPIP was 12.2% without differences between the surgical procedures (Lichtenstein: 12.8%; TEP 10.9%; TAPP 13.5%). Postoperative pain was evaluated using a newly developed analgesic score. Patients who developed CPIP later had a significant higher consumption of analgesics at discharge (p = 0.016). As additional risk factors for CPIP younger patient age and postoperative complications were identified.

Conclusion: The prospective use of the analgesic score established here could be helpful to identify patients that are at risk to develop CPIP. These patients could benefit from a structured follow-up to allow early therapeutic intervention to prevent chronification and restore the quality of life.

Citing Articles

Chronic postoperative inguinal pain (CPIP) after pediatric inguinal hernia repair-a retrospective analysis.

Widder A, Bucher H, Reinhold A, Maroske L, Meyer T, Wiegering A Hernia. 2025; 29(1):62.

PMID: 39757332 PMC: 11700912. DOI: 10.1007/s10029-024-03245-z.

Associations between (pharmaco-)genetic markers and postoperative pain after inguinal hernia repair - a prospective study protocol.

Wiss F, Dietz U, Thalheimer A, Lamm S, Rosenberg R, Allemann S BMC Med Genomics. 2024; 17(1):286.

PMID: 39696400 PMC: 11658386. DOI: 10.1186/s12920-024-02064-6.

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP): an underestimated problem after incisional hernia treatment.

Widder A, Reese L, Lock J, Wiegering A, Germer C, Rittner H Hernia. 2024; 28(5):1697-1707.

PMID: 38526673 PMC: 11449964. DOI: 10.1007/s10029-024-03027-7.

Post-Operative Analgesics Score, Another Tool in the Quest for a Better Pain Management.

Peralta R, Strandvik G World J Surg. 2023; 47(10):2444-2445.

PMID: 37400613 PMC: 10474170. DOI: 10.1007/s00268-023-07101-6.

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