| Outcome | Surgery Favored | Calculated Differences (95% CI) | Strength of Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hernia recurrence | Open surgery | RR = 1.43 (1.15 to 1.79); a 2.49% recurrence rate after open repair versus a 4.46% recurrence rate after laparoscopy |
 |
| Length of hospital stay | Approximate equivalence | Summary difference in means = 0.33 days (0.14 to 0.52) |
|
| Return to normal daily activities | Laparoscopic | Summary weighted mean difference in days = 3.9 (2.2 to 5.6) |
 |
| Return to work | Laparoscopic | Summary weighted mean difference in days = 4.6 (3.1 to 6.1) |
|
| Long-term pain | Laparoscopic | OR = 0.61 (0.48 to 0.78) |
 |
| Hematoma | Laparoscopic | OR = 0.696 (0.553 to 0.875) |
|
| Wound infection | Laparoscopic | OR = 0.49 (0.33 to 0.71) |
|
| Epigastric vessel injury | Open | OR = 2.1 (1.1 to 3.9) |
|
| Small-bowel injury | Inconclusive | OR = 0.715 (0.112 to 4.555) |
 |
| Small-bowel obstruction | Inconclusive | OR = 2.159 (0.583 to 8.001) |
|
| Urinary retention | Inconclusive | OR = 1.247 (0.836 to 1.861) |
|
| Spermatic cord injury | Inconclusive |
|
|
95% CI = 95 percent confidence interval; OR = odds ratio; RR = relative risk
From: Surgical Management of Inguinal Hernia
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