Abstract

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• BACKGROUND: The treatment of localized prostate cancer has increased over the past decade in large part due to enhanced screening efforts with prostate specific antigen (PSA) and has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of radical retropubic prostatectomies being performed in recent years. It is estimated that between 5% and 10% of men who are candidates for radical surgical treatment for localized prostate cancer will have concomitant inguinal hernia. Given the well described complications of untreated inguinal hernias we propose that simulataneous repair be undertaken along with radical retropubic prostatectomy for preoperatively defined hernias and those incidentally discovered at the time of surgery.

  MATERIAL AND METHODS:

  We concomitantly performed a novel inguinal hernia repair using a Marlex mesh plug in 15 patients who presented to our center for radical prostatectomy.

  RESULTS:

  There were no intra or post operative complications related to the repair. At a median follow up time of 18 months there were no developed recurrences or post operative orchalgia.

  CONCLUSION:

  Preperitoneal mesh-plug herniorraphy is a safe and effective technique used to repair inguinal hernias that present concomitantly with prostate cancer in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy.