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. 2008 Jul 16;2008:0412.
Ref (type) Population Outcome, Interventions Results and statistical analysis Effect size Favours
Postoperative complications (general)

RCT		 140 people Postoperative complications
17/61 (28%) with TEP laparoscopic repair
16/62 (26%) with open mesh repair
Reported as not significant
P value not reported 		Not significant
Haematoma

Systematic review		 1593 people
9 RCTs in this analysis		 Haematoma
with TEP laparoscopic repair
with open mesh repair
RR 0.44
95% CI 0.33 to 0.58
Data analysed using fixed-effects model; see further information on studies for full details 		Moderate effect size TEP laparoscopic repair

RCT		 1371 men with primary unilateral hernia Haematoma
10.5% with TEP laparoscopic repair
12.9% with open mesh repair
P = 0.184 		Not significant
Numbness

Systematic review		 906 people
4 RCTs in this analysis		 Persisting numbness at 1 year
with TEP laparoscopic repair
with open mesh repair
RR 0.67
95% CI 0.53 to 0.86
Data analysed using fixed-effects model; see further information on studies for full details 		Small effect size TEP laparoscopic repair

RCT		 1371 men with primary unilateral hernia Numbness at 3 months
3 patients with TEP laparoscopic repair
22 patients with open mesh repair
P <0.001 		Effect size not calculated TEP laparoscopic repair
Seroma

Systematic review		 1609 people
9 RCTs in this analysis		 Seroma
with TEP laparoscopic repair
with open mesh repair
RR 0.73
95% CI 0.46 to 1.14
Data analysed using fixed-effects model; see further information on studies for full details 		Not significant

RCT		 1371 men with primary unilateral hernia Seroma
0.9% with TEP laparoscopic repair
0.8% with open mesh repair
P = 1.00 		Not significant
Infection

Systematic review		 1749 people
10 RCTs in this analysis		 Superficial infection
with TEP laparoscopic repair
with open mesh repair
RR 0.62
95% CI 0.33 to 1.16
Data analysed using fixed-effects model; see further information on studies for full details 		Not significant

Systematic review		 1056 people Deep infection
with TEP laparoscopic repair
with open mesh repair

RCT		 1371 men with primary unilateral hernia Infection
1.45% with TEP laparoscopic repair
0.7% with open mesh repair
P = 0.206 		Not significant
Urinary tract discomfort

RCT		 1371 men with primary unilateral hernia Urinary tract discomfort
0.95% with TEP laparoscopic repair
1.0% with open mesh repair
P = 1.00 		Not significant
Injury

Systematic review		 1461 people Vascular injury
with TEP laparoscopic repair
with open mesh repair

Systematic review		 1274 people Visceral injury
with TEP laparoscopic repair
with open mesh repair
Postoperative pain

RCT		 140 people Need for postoperative analgesia (number of postoperative analgesic injections)
3.7 with TEP laparoscopic repair
4.3 with open mesh repair
P >0.05 		Not significant

RCT		 140 people Need for postoperative analgesia (days of oral analgesia)
2 days with TEP laparoscopic repair
2 days with open mesh repair
P >0.05 		Not significant

RCT		 1371 men with primary unilateral hernia Postoperative pain (visual analogue score)
with TEP laparoscopic repair
with open mesh repair
P <0.001 		Effect size not calculated TEP laparoscopic repair

RCT		 1371 men with primary unilateral hernia Postoperative analgesic requirement
with TEP laparoscopic repair
with open mesh repair
P <0.001 		Effect size not calculated TEP laparoscopic repair