Four-year follow-up in 33 patients after inguinal hernioplasty using the NeT Plug & Patch device.

Aim: To prove that the Net Plug & Patch is a valid device for the surgical treatment of inguinal hernia.

Material Of Study: The authors of a previous study decided to continue the follow-up for a further three years on 33 patients who had had hernia repair surgery using the three-dimensional NeT Plug & Patch device at their Hernia Center.

Results: All of the patients involved took part and the follow-up appointments were scheduled as follows: clinical examination at two years; telephone contact at three years and telephone contact and questionnaire at four years. No symptoms were observed at the second, third and fourth year follow-up time-points. There were no cases of recurrence.

Discussion: The Lichtenstein technique is currently considered the gold standard. However, many surgeons now prefer to use the MPR (Mesh Plug Repair) technique, despite the potential complications of using a plug. The technique had a short learning curve with no complications associated directly with the plug used such as migration or possible erosion of the adjacent hollow abdominal organs or blood vessels.

Conclusions: the NeT Plug & Patch device thus proved to be comfortable, safe and efficacious in inguinal repair surgery using the MPR technique.

Key Words: Mesh Plug Repair (MPR), Plug migration, Trabucco repair.