What do systematic reviews say?

Mesh vs non‐mesh repair

Mesh probably leads to lower hernia recurrence compared with non‐mesh repair (moderate certainty).

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for inguinal and femoral hernia repair 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.46 [0.26, 0.8]
  21 studies · 5575 participants
  Moderate

Mesh vs non‐mesh repair

Mesh leads to lower surgical complications ‐ neurovascular or visceral injury compared with non‐mesh repair (high certainty).

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for inguinal and femoral hernia repair 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.61 [0.49, 0.76]
  24 studies · 6293 participants
  High

Mesh vs non‐mesh repair

Mesh showed no clear difference in surgical complications ‐ wound infection compared with non‐mesh repair (low certainty).

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for inguinal and femoral hernia repair 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.29 [0.89, 1.86]
  21 studies · 4540 participants
  Low

Mesh vs non‐mesh repair

Mesh showed no clear difference in surgical complications ‐ wound dehiscence compared with non‐mesh repair (low certainty).

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for inguinal and femoral hernia repair 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.55 [0.12, 2.48]
  2 studies · 329 participants
  Low

Mesh vs non‐mesh repair

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for inguinal and femoral hernia repair 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Mesh vs non‐mesh repair

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for inguinal and femoral hernia repair 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  20 studies · 4148 participants
  Very low

Mesh vs non‐mesh repair

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for inguinal and femoral hernia repair 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  12 studies · 2966 participants
  Low

Mesh vs non‐mesh repair

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for inguinal and femoral hernia repair 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  10 studies · 3183 participants
  Low

Mesh vs non‐mesh repair

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for inguinal and femoral hernia repair 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 1680 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table ‐ mesh repair vs non‐mesh repair

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for emergency groin hernia repair 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 402 participants
  Very low

Vaginal surgery with mesh vs non‐mesh repair

Vaginal surgery with mesh may leads to higher mesh exposure compared with without mesh (low certainty).

• Surgery for women with apical vaginal prolapse 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 14.75 [4.64, 46.89]
  5 studies · 499 participants
  Low

Prosthetic mesh placement vs usual care

Prosthetic mesh placement probably leads to lower subgroup analysis:Incidence of parastomal hernia (sublay… compared with standard treatment (moderate certainty).

• Prosthetic mesh placement for the prevention of parastomal herniation 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.48 [0.36, 0.64]
  7 studies · 619 participants
  Moderate

Prosthetic mesh placement vs usual care

Prosthetic mesh placement showed no clear difference in subgroup analysis:Incidence of parastomal hernia (intraperitoneal… compared with standard treatment (moderate certainty).

• Prosthetic mesh placement for the prevention of parastomal herniation 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.76 [0.55, 1.06]
  2 studies · 101 participants
  Moderate

Prosthetic mesh placement vs usual care

• Prosthetic mesh placement for the prevention of parastomal herniation 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 128 participants
  GRADE not reported

Any transvaginal permanent mesh vs native tissue repair

Transvaginal permanent mesh probably leads to higher mesh exposure compared with native tissue repair (moderate certainty).

• Transvaginal mesh or grafts or native tissue repair for vaginal prolapse 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 11.1 [6.81, 18.1]
  26 studies · 2980 participants
  Moderate

Vaginal POP surgery with armed mesh vs anterior native tissue repair

Vaginal POP surgery with armed mesh may leads to higher one type of POP surgery vs another: armed anterior mesh vs anterior… compared with anterior native tissue repair (low certainty).

• Surgery for women with pelvic organ prolapse with or without stress urinary incontinence 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.58 [1.05, 2.37]
  7 studies · 905 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table ‐ mesh repair vs non‐mesh repair

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table ‐ mesh repair changes surgical site infections within 30 days of repair compared with non‐mesh repair (very low certainty).

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for emergency groin hernia repair 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.66 [0.96, 2.88]
  2 studies · 454 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings table ‐ mesh repair vs non‐mesh repair

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table ‐ mesh repair changes mortality within 30 days of repair compared with non‐mesh repair (very low certainty).

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for emergency groin hernia repair 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.38 [0.58, 3.28]
  1 study · 208 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings table ‐ mesh repair vs non‐mesh repair

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for emergency groin hernia repair 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Summary of findings table ‐ mesh repair vs non‐mesh repair

• Mesh versus non‐mesh for emergency groin hernia repair 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 200 participants
  Very low