Audit of Groin Hernia Repair II

Sammanfattning: Groin hernia repair is one of the most common operations performed in general  surgery, and every fourth man is expected to have a hernia operation during his lifetime. Although 8% of all repairs are performed in women, there is little published literature relating specifically to female anatomy, risk factors and techniques. There is a continuing development of new mesh materials and health care reorganization with specialized surgical clinics changing the availability of basic surgery for surgeons under training.In 1997 a thesis was published by Anders Kald, Audit of Groin Hernia Repair, which aimed to establish an audit of hernia surgery, evaluating management, risk factors, outcome and economy. The aim of this thesis was to continue the audit of hernia surgery in Sweden, allowing evaluation of gender issues, a new mesh material, and performance of surgeons under training.Our data showed that women have a higher incidence of emergency groin hernia repair than men, and an increased rate of femoral recurrence after an inguinal hernia repair. Time to reoperation suggests that a primary misdiagnosis is common. Detection of femoral hernias could be increased by using preperitoneal techniques, visualizing all three groin hernia locations.Patients who received a lightweight mesh at their hernia operation had a shorter convalescence, with faster return to work and normal activity.It might be more efficient, but not necessarily better to let a specialized hernia surgeon perform the repair. Surgical trainees had more postoperative complications, but fewer patients had chronic pain at the long-term follow-up.