Twelve-month outcomes after fixation-free, 3-dimensional, lightweight SWING-Mesh implantation for minimally-invasive inguinal hernia repair: a multicenter prospective observational study

@article{zamkowski2026twelvemonth,
  title = {{Twelve-month outcomes after fixation-free, 3-dimensional, lightweight SWING-Mesh implantation for minimally-invasive inguinal hernia repair: a multicenter prospective observational study}},
  author = {Mateusz Zamkowski and Maciej Bękarski and Jacek Białecki and Jarosław Chudek and Grzegorz Dobkowski and Paula Franczak and Jacek Grabias and Jakub Gołyski and Krystian Kisielewski and Marcin Kontek and Aleksander Król and Volodymyr Lavrynets and Bartosz Molasy and Kryspin Mitura and Dorota Piątek-Czypionka and Michał Putko and Jerzy Ropel and Przemysław Rymkiewicz and Sławomir Saluk and Leszek Sułkowski and Dominik Wieczorek and Marcin Włodarczyk and Marta Wójcik and Maciej Śmietański},
  journal = {Videosurgery and other Miniinvasive Techniques},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.20452/wiitm.2026.18044},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.20452/wiitm.2026.18044},
  note = {CC BY-NC-SA 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Twelve-month outcomes after fixation-free, 3-dimensional, lightweight SWING-Mesh implantation for minimally-invasive inguinal hernia repair: a multicenter prospective observational study
AU  - Mateusz Zamkowski
AU  - Maciej Bękarski
AU  - Jacek Białecki
AU  - Jarosław Chudek
AU  - Grzegorz Dobkowski
AU  - Paula Franczak
AU  - Jacek Grabias
AU  - Jakub Gołyski
AU  - Krystian Kisielewski
AU  - Marcin Kontek
AU  - Aleksander Król
AU  - Volodymyr Lavrynets
AU  - Bartosz Molasy
AU  - Kryspin Mitura
AU  - Dorota Piątek-Czypionka
AU  - Michał Putko
AU  - Jerzy Ropel
AU  - Przemysław Rymkiewicz
AU  - Sławomir Saluk
AU  - Leszek Sułkowski
AU  - Dominik Wieczorek
AU  - Marcin Włodarczyk
AU  - Marta Wójcik
AU  - Maciej Śmietański
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/27
JO  - Videosurgery and other Miniinvasive Techniques
DO  - 10.20452/wiitm.2026.18044
UR  - https://doi.org/10.20452/wiitm.2026.18044
AB  - INTRODUCTION:: Long-term independent evidence regarding new mesh types used in inguinal hernia repair is scarce. We previously reported favorable 3-month outcomes for the fixation-free 3-dimensional SWING-Mesh, but early follow-up precluded capturing recurrence or persistent pain.  AIM:: We aimed to assess recurrence, pain, and complications 12 months after fixation-free SWING-Mesh implantation in transabdominal preperitoneal and totally extraperitoneal repairs.  MATERIALS AND METHODS:: A prospective observational cohort study was performed in 19 Polish centers. Consecutive adults undergoing elective laparoendoscopic repair with unfixed SWING-Mesh were enrolled; large direct (M3) defects and emergency procedures were excluded. The unit of analysis was the operated groin. Assessments were performed at discharge, 7–10 days, 30 days, 3 months, and at 12 months following surgery. The primary end point was recurrence; secondary end points were pain (Visual Analog Scale [VAS], 0–10 points) and complications.  RESULTS:: Of 294 cases, 233 (79.3%) were assessed at 12 months; 61 (20.7%) were lost to follow-up. Recurrence was identified in 5 cases (2.15%; 95% CI, 0.7%–4.94%), as compared with none at 3 months. Pain decreased throughout the observation period (Friedman test, P <0.001). In contrast to the 3-month analysis, in which scores at 30 days and 3 months showed no difference, pain scores decreased further between 3 and 12 months (P <0.001), and the number of pain-free cases increased from 78.5% to 93.1%. One case (0.43%) had a VAS score of 4 or higher. Complications remained at 6.9%, with no cases of seroma or hematoma.  CONCLUSIONS:: Fixation-free SWING-Mesh repair demonstrated a 12-month recurrence rate below the prespecified noninferiority margin, very low persistent pain, and complete resolution of structural complications, with pain scores continuing to improve beyond 3 months.
SN  - 1895-4588
SN  - 2299-0054
ER  -