Abstract
Background: Inguinal hernia is one of the most common surgical conditions encountered in clinical practice and accounts for nearly 75% of all abdominal wall hernias worldwide. It occurs due to the protrusion of abdominal contents through a weakened area in the inguinal region. Surgical repair, particularly mesh hernioplasty, is considered the definitive treatment and has significantly reduced recurrence rates compared to traditional tissue repair techniques. However, chronic postoperative pain and mesh-related discomfort remain important concerns that may negatively affect patients' functional status and quality of life. Therefore, systematic evaluation of postoperative pain and patient-reported outcomes using validated assessment tools is essential to assess surgical success and improve patient care.
Objective: To evaluate chronic postoperative pain and quality of life among patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Carolina Comfort Scale (CCS).
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 100 patients who underwent inguinal hernioplasty in the Department of General Surgery at a tertiary care hospital. Patient demographic details, diagnosis, and postoperative information were collected from medical records. Postoperative pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while postoperative comfort, mesh sensation, and functional limitations were evaluated using the Carolina Comfort Scale (CCS). Patients were followed up at three postoperative intervals: Day 5, Day 15, and Day 45. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between VAS and CCS scores.
Results: A total of 100 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 46.61 years. The majority of patients were male (69%), reflecting the higher prevalence of inguinal hernia among men. Right indirect inguinal hernia was the most frequently observed diagnosis. Postoperative pain assessment showed a progressive reduction in VAS scores over time, with the mean score decreasing from 3.95 on postoperative Day 5 to 1.24 on Day 15 and reaching 0 by Day 45. Similarly, CCS scores demonstrated significant improvement, declining from 1.46 on Day 5 to 0.18 by Day 45, indicating reduced discomfort and improved functional ability. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.789, p < 0.001) was observed between VAS and CCS scores, suggesting that pain intensity significantly influences postoperative quality of life.
Conclusion: Mesh hernioplasty is an effective surgical treatment for inguinal hernia and is associated with significant reduction in postoperative pain and improvement in patients’ quality of life. The combined use of VAS and CCS provides a comprehensive and reliable method for evaluating postoperative outcomes and monitoring recovery in patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair.