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Watchful Waiting Versus Open Tension-Free Repair of Inguinal Hernia in Asymptomatic or Minimally Symptomatic Men
This study has been completed.
Sponsored by: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Information provided by: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00263250
  Purpose

This is a multicenter clinical trial to compare pain, physical function, and other outcomes in men with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic inguinal hernias randomly assigned to watchful waiting without an operation, or a standard hernia repair with mesh. We studied the safety of delaying operation.


Condition Intervention
Inguinal Hernia
Procedure: watchful waiting or tension-free hernia repair

MedlinePlus related topics: Hernia
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Single Group Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study
Official Title: Watchful Waiting Versus Open Tension-Free Repair of Inguinal Hernia in Asymptomatic or Minimally Symptomatic Men

Further study details as provided by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ):

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Pain limiting usual activities at two years.
  • Physical function (PCS) at two years.

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Complications
  • patient-reported outcomes of pain, functional status, activity levels, and satisfaction with care.
  • Cost effectiveness.

Estimated Enrollment: 724
Study Start Date: January 1999
Estimated Study Completion Date: December 2004
Detailed Description:

CONTEXT Many men with an inguinal hernia have minimal symptoms. Whether deferring operation is safe and a good option for some patients has not been assessed.

OBJECTIVE To compare pain and the Physical Component Score (PCS) of the SF-36 at two years in men with minimally symptomatic inguinal hernias randomized to watchful waiting (WW) or a standard tension-free hernia repair (TFR).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS. Between January, 1999 and December, 2004 we conducted a multicenter trial of 720 men (364 WW, 356 TFR) who were followed for 2-4.5 years. Men were excluded with hernia pain interfering with activities; undetectable hernias; infection; American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status >3; recent difficulty in reducing the hernia.

INTERVENTIONS Men assigned to WW were followed at 6 months and annually and watched for hernia symptoms. Men assigned to operation received TFR, and were followed at 3 and 6 months, and annually.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Male
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: men 18 years of age and older with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic inguinal hernias who give informed consent to be randomized.

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Exclusion Criteria:Presence of pain limiting usual activities, difficulty in reducing hernia within last 6 weeks, undetectable hernias, local or systemic infection, ASA physical status >3, or participation in another clinical trial.

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  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00263250

Locations
United States, Illinois
American College of Surgeons
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60610
Sponsors and Collaborators
Investigators
Study Director: Olga Jonasson, M.D. American College of Surgeons
  More Information

American College of Surgeons  This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

Publications indexed to this study:
Study ID Numbers: RO1 HS 09860
Study First Received: December 6, 2005
Last Updated: December 6, 2005
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00263250  
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ):
inguinal hernia
asymptomatic
watchful waiting
tension-free hernia repair

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Pathological Conditions, Anatomical
Hernia
Hernia, Abdominal
Hernia, Inguinal

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 16, 2009