title: Audit of patient experience of day-case inguinal hernia repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was prompted by a complaint from a patient citing he had suffered postoperative pain and scrotal bruising. We audit postoperative pain following inguinal herniorrhaphy and patient understanding of postoperative complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A telephone survey was carried out to assess patient experience of day-case inguinal herniorrhaphy (DIH). Having identified that there was some dissatisfaction with the outcome of DIH, a prospective audit was carried out to assess causative factors. Changes in practice were made; chiefly, the provision of patient-information leaflets and the standardisation of intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. Repeat audit then assessed the effects of these changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten percent of patients had a poor understanding of postoperative complications following inguinal herniorrhaphy. Thirty-eight percent had early postoperative pain; wound infiltration of local anaesthetic at the end of inguinal herniorrhaphy reduced the incidence of early postoperative pain to 23%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Audit is an important tool in surgical quality assurance for DIH. Small changes in practice with adherence to good protocols can have a marked effect on patients' experience.
authors.affiliation: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK. usman.jaffer@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jaffer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elmghrbee
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilding
authors.forename: A E P
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications