Evaluating quality of life following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair using Modified Carolina Comfort Scale.

Abstract

Background: To predict the quality of life following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, using
Carolina Comfort Scale is used.
Method:This study was a prospective observational study conducted at Government Medical
College,Srinagar (tertiary care hospital). This study included 30 patients with inguinal hernias.
Carolina Comfort Scale was used pre-operatively (modified for pre-operative use by omitting
questions related to mesh). After proper consent 93.3% patients underwent TAPP and 6.7%
patients underwent TEP by single surgeon. Dextile 3-D mesh was used in all patients which
was fixed using tackers. Post operatively patients were followed up at 2 and 6 weeks CCS score
was again assessed. Data was collected and statistical analysis was done.
Result:All of the patients completed all three questionnaires. All of the patients were male. The
mean age was 54.7 ±10.30 yrs. Half of the patients were having direct and the other half having indirect hernia.80% patients were having unilateral and 20% were having bilateral
hernias.93.3% patients underwent TAPP and 6.7% TEP. It was found that there was significant
improvement in quality of life following repair with p-value <0.001. Also it was found that
patients having score of more than 20 pre-operatively were more likely to have persistent
discomfort in post -operative period. Also patients having less score (< 10) pre-operatively
were found to have high score at 2 weeks which reduced at 6 week.
Conclusion: There was significant improvement in quality of life following laparoscopic
inguinal hernia repair. Also, pre-operative score can predict the outcome after surgery. Hence
this scale should be used preoperatively as well for counseling the patients.