title: Are the outcomes of emergency Lichtenstein hernioplasty similar to the outcomes of elective Lichtenstein hernioplasty?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The safe use of polypropylene prosthesis for the repair of complicated inguinal hernias has been established even when small bowel resection was required. Few reports have completely addressed this subject; none have compared the outcomes of emergency and elective Lichtenstein hernioplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2001 to December 2003, 343 patients were electively operated for inguinal hernia and 62 for complicated inguinal hernia. A follow-up period of 17-57 months using the Quantitative and Qualitative Measurement Instrument for evaluation of Lichtenstein hernioplasty outcomes (QQMI) was completed for 48 emergency patients and 326 elective patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean QQMI score showed that most patients felt that the outcomes of their surgery were very good or excellent. Mean QQMI score for elective surgery was 10.1 and 9.5 for emergency surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes of emergency Lichtenstein hernioplasty were inferior to the outcomes of elective Lichtenstein hernioplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Emergency Unit, Hospital de Ovalle, Ovalle, IV Region, Chile. beltran_01@yahoo.com <beltran_01@yahoo.com>
authors.forename: Marcelo A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Beltrán
authors.forename: Karina S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cruces
mesh_terms: D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence