Post-operative benefits of Tisseel(®)/Tissucol (®) for mesh fixation in patients undergoing Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair: secondary results from the TIMELI trial.

Purpose: The Tisseel/Tissucol for mesh fixation in Lichtenstein hernia repair (TIMELI) study showed that mesh fixation with human fibrin sealant during inguinal hernia repair significantly reduced moderate-severe complications of pain 12 months post-operatively compared with sutures. Further analyses may assist surgeons by investigating predictors of post-surgical complications and identifying patients that may benefit from Tisseel/Tissucol intervention.

Methods: Univariate and multivariate analyses identified risk factors for combined pain, numbness and groin discomfort (PND) visual analogue scale (VAS) score 12 months post-operatively.

Randomized, controlled, blinded trial of Tisseel/Tissucol for mesh fixation in patients undergoing Lichtenstein technique for primary inguinal hernia repair: results of the TIMELI trial.

Objective: Test the hypothesis that fibrin sealant mesh fixation can reduce the incidence of postoperative pain/numbness/groin discomfort by up to 50% compared with sutures for repair of inguinal hernias using the Lichtenstein technique.

Background: Inguinal hernia repair is the most common procedure in general surgery, thus improvements in surgical techniques, which reduce the burden of undesirable postoperative outcomes, are of clinical importance.

Methods: A randomized, controlled, patient- and evaluator-blinded study (Tissucol/Tisseel for MEsh fixation in LIchtenstein hernia repair [TIMELI]; trial NCT00306839) was conducted among patients eligible for Lichtenstein repair of uncomplicated unilateral primary inguinal small-medium sized hernia.

Classification of primary and incisional abdominal wall hernias.

Purpose: A classification for primary and incisional abdominal wall hernias is needed to allow comparison of publications and future studies on these hernias. It is important to know whether the populations described in different studies are comparable.

Methods: Several members of the EHS board and some invitees gathered for 2 days to discuss the development of an EHS classification for primary and incisional abdominal wall hernias.

Randomized, controlled, blinded trial of Tissucol/Tisseel for mesh fixation in patients undergoing Lichtenstein technique for primary inguinal hernia repair: rationale and study design of the TIMELI trial.

Background: Complications associated with sutured mesh fixation following open groin hernia repair have prompted surgeons to evaluate methods of atraumatic fixation such as the use of human fibrin glue. Small trials with Tissucol/Tisseel fibrin glue (Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, IL, USA) have shown promising results that warrant further investigation.

Methods: TIMELI (Tissucol/Tisseel for MEsh fixation in LIchtenstein hernia repair) is an international, controlled, randomized, patient- and evaluator-blinded study that is comparing mesh fixation with Tissucol or sutures in patients with inguinal hernia.

The European hernia society groin hernia classification: simple and easy to remember.

After reviewing the available classifications for groin hernias, the European Hernia Society (EHS) proposes an easy and simple classification based on the Aachen classification. The EHS will promote the general and systematic use of this classification for intraoperative description of the type of hernia and to increase the comparison of results in the literature.