Background: Elderly patients frequently suffer from inguinal hernia and benign prostatic hyperplasia. When these two occur together, it becomes important to decide which surgery should be done first.
Methods: Data was maintained prospectively for 35 patients undergoing simultaneous transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and inguinal mesh hernioplasty at our hospital between May 2000 and December 2002. The results were analyzed to determine whether the performance of the two operations simultaneously was a viable option in such a patient category.
Results: In 33 patients unilateral hernioplasty, and in 2, Stoppa's mesh repair (for bilateral hernia) was performed along with simultaneous TURP by two independent operating teams. There was no significant increase in operating time or post-operative stay when the two procedures were performed together. There were no major in-hospital complications. On follow up, all the patients have remained well, with no recurrence of hernia.
Conclusions: Combining mesh hernioplasty and TURP is a better option because of low wound infection and hernia recurrence rates. Combining these two also saves the patient of having to undergo another hospital admission and surgery, besides the significant cost savings.