Groin hernia repair: postherniorrhaphy pain.

Persistent pain after hernia repair is common, although it is usually mild. In 3% of patients it is severe, however, and has significant effects on work and social activities. The purpose of this review was to examine factors that affect pain after hernia repair. Although the type of anaesthetic used, local or general, and the operation type, open or laparoscopic, seems to affect acute pain, chronic persistent pain is influenced by the age of the patient and whether the hernia was painful preoperatively. Preliminary evidence indicating that use of a lightweight mesh may reduce chronic pain requires further research before definitive conclusions can be drawn.