Journal of Minimal Access Surgery (Jan 2006)
The Shouldice technique for the treatment of inguinal hernia
Abstract
The Shouldice repair has been refined over several decades and is the gold standard for the prosthesis-free treatment of inguinal hernias. A recurrence rate around 1% has been consistently demonstrated over the years. The objective of this paper is to outline and highlight the key principles, including the dedicated pre-operative preparation, the use of local anesthesia, a complete inguinal dissection and the eponymous four-layered reconstruction. A knowledge and understanding of inguinal hernia anatomy and the patho-physiology of recurrence are vital to achieving a long-term success and patient satisfaction for a pure tissue repair.