A prospective audit of Lichtenstein's tension-free herniorrhaphy in Taranaki, New Zealand.
BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to assess the outcome of Lichtenstein's tension-free mesh inguinal herniorrhaphy as practised by surgeons in a provincial centre in Taranaki, New Zealand.


METHODS
A prospective audit was carried out on all patients who underwent this procedure in Taranaki. They were followed up at 1 month and again at 1 year. Results were entered on a standardized pro forma.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-four patients underwent 134 repairs by four different surgeons and their registrars. Eighty-two per cent of them had a general anaesthetic, and 13% had local anaesthestic. Twenty-five per cent of the repairs were performed as day surgery and a further 53% required overnight stays. Complication rates were 6% in hospital, 12.7% at I month and 8% at 1 year. Recurrence occurred in one repair (0.9%) and there were no cases of mesh rejection. The wound infection rate was 3% and all were minor. Only 45% of the patients who had an inguinal hemiorrhaphy were employed and they took an average of 16 days (range 2-30) to return to work. Over half felt that that they could have returned to normal activities within 2 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
The Lichtenstein technique of inguinal herniorrhaphy is a technically simple, reliable procedure with minimal morbidity and patients may expect a reasonably prompt return to work and to normal activities.
Hulme-Moir
M
M
Department of General Surgery, Taranaki Base Hospital, New Plymouth, New Zealand. hulme.moir@xtra.co.nz
Kyle
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013526:Surgical Mesh