A Comparative Study of Tackers Versus Sutures in Transabdominal Preperitoneal Hernia Repair: Tackers Versus Sutures in Mesh Fixation and Peritoneal Closure in Tapp

Background: This study evaluates the surgical outcomes of using tackers versus sutures for mesh fixation and peritoneal closure in transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) mesh repair of inguinal hernia, focusing on postoperative pain, quality of life, and other key metrics. Although there are many studies in studying various outcomes of Transabdominal preperitoneal mesh repair (TAPP), there exists only few trials that compare peritoneal closure techniques in TAPP Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute. Sixty patients undergoing TAPP were divided into two groups: one using non-absorbable sutures and the other using non-absorbable titanium tackers for mesh fixation and peritoneal closure. Intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were assessed, including time taken for procedures, postoperative pain (measured using the Visual Analog Scale), incidence of seroma formation, and short-term quality of life assessed using the Carolinas Comfort Scale. Results: The suture group demonstrated significantly less postoperative pain on postoperative day (POD) 1 and at 3 months compared to the tacker group (p=0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). The time taken for mesh fixation and peritoneal closure was shorter in the tacker group, but the overall operative time was significantly longer in the suture group (p=0.001). The cost of using sutures was substantially lower than tackers. Quality of life scores at 3 months indicated better outcomes in the suture group (p=0.001). Conclusions: Sutures for mesh fixation and peritoneal closure in TAPP repair provide better postoperative outcomes in terms of pain, quality of life, and cost compared to tackers, despite a longer operative time. These findings suggest that sutures may be a preferable option for TAPP inguinal hernia repair.