The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS) mesh versus Lightweight polypropylene (PP) mesh in Lichtenstein repair of inguinal hernia.

From January 1 2012 to August 31 2015, the consecutive male patients of unilateral inguinal hernia undergoing Lichtenstein repair using SIS mesh and lightweight PP mesh in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were analyzed retrospectively. SIS group and PP group were enrolled in 64 patients respectively. The safety and short-term efficacy of the two groups were compared.

There were no significant differences in pain score at 24 hours after operation, fever, wound fat liquefaction, serum swelling, urinary retention, testicular complications between the SIS group and the PP group (all P>0.05). There were no surgical site infection and hematoma cases in two groups. No recurrence occurred in two groups. Although the severity of postoperative chronic pain (14.1% vs 15.6%, χ²=0.062, P=0.804), postoperative groin discomfort (12.5% vs 17.2%, χ²=0.556, P=0.456), foreign body sensation (3.1% vs 4.7%, P=1.000) in the SIS group were lower than those in the PP group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P >0.05). There were no obvious ejaculatory pain or obstruction and testicular atrophy occurred in two groups. There were two cases (3.1%) of testicular swelling in PP group.

The safety and short-term efficacy of SIS mesh compared with light PP mesh in Lichtenstein repair of inguinal hernia are comparable, but the long-term efficacy remains to be further observed.