Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing Lightweight and Heavyweight Mesh for Laparoscopic Total Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of lightweight and heavyweight mesh on postoperative recovery in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair. PubMed, Embase, Science Citation Index, and the Cochrane Library were used to search for published clinical randomized controlled trials, which compared lightweight meshes with heavyweight meshes in TEP inguinal hernia repair. The outcomes were calculated as risk ratios with 95 per cent confidence intervals using RevMan 5.2. Eight randomized controlled trials were included. Compared with a heavyweight mesh, the lightweight mesh led to a higher incidence of recurrence (risk ratio = 2.52, 95% confidence interval 1.10-5.81; P = 0.03). There was no significant difference in chronic moderate to severe pain, foreign body sensation, and seroma. The use of lightweight mesh is not recommended for TEP inguinal hernia repair.