Self-reported adverse events after groin hernia repair, a study based on a national register.
OBJECTIVE
In most clinics, follow-up after inguinal hernia surgery is not a routine procedure and complications may pass unnoticed, thus impairing quality assessment. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency, spectrum, and risk factors of short-term adverse events after groin hernia repair.


METHODS
All patients aged 15 years or older with a primary unilateral inguinal or femoral hernia repair recorded in the Swedish Hernia Register (SHR) between November 1 and December 31, 2002 were sent a questionnaire asking about complications within the first 30 postoperative days.


RESULTS
Of the 1643 recorded patients, 1448 (88.1%) responded: 1341 (92.6%) were men and 107 (7.4%) women, mean age 59 years. There were 195 (11.9%) nonresponders. Postoperative complications reported in the questionnaire were hematoma in 203 (14.0%) patients, severe pain in 168 (11.6%), testicular pain in 120 (8.3%), and infection in 105 (7.3%). Adverse events were reported in the questionnaire by 391 (23.8%) patients, whereas only 85 (5.2%) were affected according to the SHR. Risk factors for postoperative complications were age below the median (59 years) among the studied hernia patients (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.06-1.74) and laparoscopic repair (OR 2.66; 95% CI 1.17-6.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Questionnaires provide valuable additional information concerning postoperative complications. We recommend that they become an integrated part of routine postoperative assessment.
Fränneby
Ulf
U
Department of Surgery, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. ulf.franneby@sodersjukhuset.se
Sandblom
Gabriel
G
Nyrén
Olof
O
Nordin
Pär
P
Gunnarsson
Ulf
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin / Q000601:surgery*; D006550:Hernia, Femoral / Q000601:surgery*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult