OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of hernioplasty using acellular tissue matrix patch to repair inguinal hernia of pediatric patients aged 6 to 18 years.

METHODSSixty eligible patients aged 6 to 18 years with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were randomly assigned to experimental or control group from June to December 2009. In the experimental group, acellular tissue matrix patch was used during Lichtenstein herniorrhaphy while traditional high ligation of hernial sac was used in the control group. Preoperative and postoperative parameters such as clinical informations of patients, postoperative complications and recurrence rate were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between the 2 groups in postoperative length of stay [(31 ± 8) h vs. (34 ± 11) h] and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale Pain Score (2.8 ± 0.9 vs. 2.6 ± 1.0) (P > 0.05), but the operation time in the experimental group were longer than that in the control group significantly [(39 ± 4) min vs. (36 ± 4) min, t = 3.357, P = 0.001]. The duration of follow-up ranged from 14 to 20 months. There were no postoperative incisional infection, chronic postoperative pain and local foreign body sensation in two groups. In the experimental group, 3 patients suffered scrotal hydrocele as compared 2 patients in the control group. There was no recurrence in the experimental group as compared 2 patients (6.7%) in the control group, which was no significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLichtenstein repair for pediatric patients aged 6 to 18 years with acellular tissue matrix patch has good results and with limited postoperative complications.