Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28852860›Full record

Observational studyHernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery2017

Bilateral endoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair does not impair male fertility.

M M Roos, G J Clevers, E J Verleisdonk, P H Davids, C van de Water, R J Spermon, L S Mulder, J P J Burgmans

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Does laparoscopic hernia repair affect the vascularity of testis?Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2020
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

M M RoosDepartment of Surgery/Hernia Clinic, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht/Zeist, Utrecht, The Netherlands. mroos@diakhuis.nl.
G J CleversDepartment of Surgery/Hernia Clinic, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht/Zeist, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
E J VerleisdonkDepartment of Surgery/Hernia Clinic, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht/Zeist, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
P H DavidsDepartment of Surgery/Hernia Clinic, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht/Zeist, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
C van de WaterDepartment of Clinical Chemistry, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht/Zeist, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
R J SpermonDepartment of Urology, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht/Zeist, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
L S MulderDepartment of Radiology, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht/Zeist, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
J P J BurgmansDepartment of Surgery/Hernia Clinic, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht/Zeist, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Diakonessenhuis hospital · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeEndoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair with polypropylene mesh has become a well-established technique. However, since the mesh is placed in close contact with the spermatic cord, mesh-induced inflammation may affect its structures, possibly resulting in impaired fertility. The aim of this observational prospective cohort study was to assess fertility after bilateral endoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair in male patients.

methodsFifty-seven male patients (22-60 years old) with primary, reducible, bilateral inguinal hernias underwent elective bilateral endoscopic TEP hernia repair with use of polypropylene mesh. The primary outcome was testicular perfusion; secondary outcomes were testicular volume, endocrinological status, and semen quality. All patients were assessed preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively.

resultsFollow-up was completed in 44 patients. No statistically significant differences in measurements of testicular blood flow parameters or testicular volume were found. Postoperative LH levels were significantly higher [preoperative median 4.3 IU/L (IQR 3.4-5.3) versus postoperative median 5.0 IU/L (IQR 3.6-6.5), p = 0.03]. Levels of inhibin B were significantly lower postoperatively [preoperative median 139.0 ng/L (IQR 106.5-183.0) versus postoperative median 27.0 ng/L (IQR 88.3-170.9), p = 0.01]. No significant changes in FSH or testosterone levels were observed. There were no differences in semen quality.

conclusionsOur data suggest that bilateral endoscopic TEP hernia repair with polypropylene mesh does not impair fertility, as no differences in testicular blood flow, testicular volume, or semen quality were observed. Postoperative levels of LH and inhibin B differed significantly from preoperative measurements, yet no clinical relevance could be ascribed to these findings.

Indexed as

EndoscopyFertilityHerniorrhaphySurgical MeshAdultAgedFemaleHernia, InguinalHumansMaleMiddle AgedPolypropylenesProspective StudiesSemen AnalysisTestisYoung AdultPolypropylenesBilateralEndoscopicFertilityInguinal herniaTEP

Identifiers

PMID28852860
OpenAlexW2750852912

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.