Background: Despite the high burden of inguinal hernias in India, and the total embrace of the tension-free mesh techniques (Lichtenstein) its use has remained low in rural areas because of its cost and availability. Desarda’s method, acclaimed to be tension free with very few studies done on this technique, there was need to evaluate its effectiveness in a rural setup like MVJ medical college and analyze its efficacy with respect to procedure, complications and outcomes. Study Objectives: To study outcomes of Desarda’s method of hernia repair like postoperative pain, hospital stay, return to work, Operative time, Foreign body sensation, Chronic Groin pain, Recurrence. Methods: This was a prospective observational study of patients with primary inguinal hernias who underwent Desarda’s repair from July 2017 and June 2019. Postoperative acute pain was assessed with the help of VAS 1, 2, 3 days and 1 month postoperative day. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 months to check for complications. Results: There were 50 male participants (mean age 48.2 yrs). Procedure took 52.32 mins and ambulation time was 1.52 SDdays. Mean pain score was 3.24 SD+0.77 (POD1), decreased to 1.58 (POD2), 1.18 (POD3). Mean hospital stay was 4.06 days. 4% had hematoma, 6% had seroma, Surgical site infection rate was 6%. Many patients returned to work with a mean of 8.12 days. No complaints of chronic pain, foreign body sensation after 3 months. No recurrence was seen during the study period.(Table 2) Conclusion: Desarda technique is fast with less complications, Patients return early to work and none had chronic groin pain and foreign body sensation after 3 months. Without any recurrence the efficacy of Desarda’s repair may be considered equal to mesh repair in preventing recurrence and better in late complications, cost benefit and patient compliance.

Keywords: Desarda’s repair; Tissue based repair; Operative time; Ambulatory period; Post operative pain; Return to work; Chronic groin pain; Recurrence.