Original article
Valenti method in inguinal hernia repair. New technique or innovative technique? The analysis of early treatment results

Introduction: The introduction of synthetic materials in hernia surgery has led to improved results. Modern procedures are based on tension-free technique. This rule has been entirely applied in the innovative Valenti hernia repair method – PAD (dynamic self-adapting prosthesis).
Aim: To evaluate the initial results of performed treatment after Valenti inguinal hernia repair.
Materials and methods: Valenti hernia repair was performed in 78 patients with inguinal hernia at the Surgery Department in Siedlce Hospital between September 2006 and October 2007. The study consisted 73 male patients (93.6%) and 5 female patients (6.4%) aged between 27 and 82 years (average 56.3). Two complementary elements of mesh graft were applied at the surgery. Appropriate shape of polypropylene mesh has being acquired with the use of a special mold. We have analyzed the duration of the surgery and hospitalization, the occurrence of complications during and after the surgery, patients’ subjective evaluation of the surgery regarding pain and time of returning to normal physical activity, as well as hernia recurrence.
Results: Average duration time of surgery was 58 minutes (ranging from 35 to 110; median 50). The spinal anesthesia was a predominant type of anesthesia (71 patients; 91%), in remaining patients a general or local anesthesia has been performed. Mean hospitalization time reached 3.6 days (ranging from 2 to 6; median 4). One patient had a wound hematoma, in one case a scrotal edema was found in early postoperative period. No other typical local complications have developed. One week after the surgery patients described the pain intensification in ten-points scale VAS (0 – no pain, 10 – maximum pain). Most of the patients had no pain complaints (48 patients), VAS 1 (23), VAS 2 (6), VAS 3 (1). At this point 63 patients described the surgery results as very good, 15 patients – as good. The return to full daily activity has been achieved in 2.7 day after the surgery.
Conclusions: Totally tension-free method of Valenti inguinal hernia repair provides patients with minimal pain in a postoperative period and allows a prompt return to the daily activity.