Outcome of inguinal hernia repair at two rural hospitals in northern Scotland.
BACKGROUND
Audit of inguinal hernia repair is important in view of the magnitude of the problem and the fact that it is a common operation often performed by surgical trainees. Due to the disparity of the results of various workers with regard to the rate of complications, individual surgeons have been advised to audit their patients' outcomes.


METHODS
Retrospective audit was performed, of all the inguinal hernias repaired between 1997 and 2003 inclusive, at two rural hospitals in northern Scotland, under a single consultant. Data were gathered from a hospital database and by means of postal questionnaire specifically aimed at wound complications, recurrence and chronic groin pain.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-three inguinal hernias were repaired during this period. One hundred and fifty-eight questionnaires were sent to patients ascertained to be living at the time of audit initiation with a response from 129 (86%). At a mean follow-up of 4.34 years, no recurrences were noted and eight patients complained of chronic groin pain of whom only three (1.5%) were experiencing moderate to severe pain. The results achieved by senior house officers were comparable to those obtained by the senior surgeon.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of recurrence of hernia after open mesh repair of inguinal hernias is very low. Excellent outcomes can be obtained for inguinal hernia even at remote and rural hospitals in the hands of both experienced and trainee surgeons
Menakuru
S R
SR
Department of General Surgery, Caithness General Hospital, Wick, KW1 5NS, UK.
Philip
T
T
Ravindranath
N
N
Fisher
P W
PW
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006119:Groin / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome