Hernia

Day-case and in-patient elective inguinal hernia repair surgery across England: an observational study of variation and outcomes (2023)

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Type of publication:Journal article

Author(s):Joyner, J; Ayyaz, F M; *Cheetham, M; Briggs, T W R; Gray, W K.

Citation:Hernia. 2023 Oct 18.

Abstract:PURPOSE: Elective primary inguinal hernia repair surgery is increasingly being conducted as a day-case procedure. However, in England there is evidence of wide variation in day-case rates across hospitals. Reducing the extent of this variation has the potential to support more efficient use of resources (e.g., clinician time, hospital beds) and help the recovery of elective surgical activity following the COVID-19 pandemic. The aims of this study were to explore the extent of variation in day-case rates across healthcare providers in England and to evaluate the safety of day-case elective primary inguinal hernia repair surgery. METHODS: This was an exploratory, retrospective analysis of observational data from the Hospital Episode Statistics data set for England. All patients aged >= 17 years undergoing a first elective inguinal hernia repair between 1st April 2014 and 31st March 2022 were identified. The exposure of interest was day-case or in-patient stay, and the primary outcome of interest was 30-day emergency readmission with an overnight stay. For reporting, providers were aggregated to an Integrated Care Board (ICB) level. RESULTS: A total of 413,059 elective primary inguinal hernia repairs were identified over the 8-year study period. Of these, 326,833 (79.1%) were day-case procedures. During the most recent financial year (2021-22), the highest day-case rate for an ICB was 93.8% and the lowest 66.1%. After adjusting for covariates, day-case surgery was associated with significantly lower rates of 30-day emergency readmission (odds ratio (OR) 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58-0.64, p < 0.001) and for the secondary outcomes 180-day mortality and haemorrhage, infection and pain at 30-day post-discharge. Rates of 30-day emergency readmission were significantly lower in ICBs with high rates of day-case surgery (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.74-0.96, p < 0.001) than in ICBs with low rates of day-case surgery, although rates of post-procedural haemorrhage within 30 days of discharge were significantly higher in trusts with high day-case rates (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.04-1.40, p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: For the outcomes studied, we found no consistent evidence that day-case elective inguinal hernia repair was unsafe for selected patients. Currently, there is substantial variation between ICBs in terms of delivering day-case surgery. Reducing this variability may help address the current pressures on the NHS in elective surgery.

Fascial defect closure in laparoscopic incisional/ventral hernia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized, controlled trials (2021)

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Type of publication:Conference abstract

Author(s):Rehman S.; *Akhtar M.S.; Khan M.; Sains P.; Sajid M.S.

Citation:British Journal of Surgery; Oct 2021; vol. 108, Supplement 7

Abstract:Aims: Closure of fascial defect (CFD) during laparoscopic incisional/ ventral hernia repair (LIVHR) remains a controversial issue which requires further investigations to reach a solid conclusion. The objective of this study is to present a systematic review comparing the outcomes of randomized controlled trials evaluating the defect closure versus no-defect closure in patients undergoing LIVHR. Method(s): A systematic review of randomized, controlled trials reporting the fascial defect closure in patients undergoing LIVHR until January 2021 published in Embase, Medline, PubMed, PubMed Central and Cochrane databases was performed using the principles of metaanalysis. Result(s): A total of four RCTs involving 443 patients were included. In the random effects model analysis, using the statistical software Review Manager, defect closure during LIVHR showed no difference in hernia recurrence (risk ratio (RR), 0.89; 95% CI, 0.31, 2.57; z=0.21; P=0.84). In addition, the post-operative complications (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.41, 1.16; z=1.41; P=0.16), duration of operation (Standardized mean difference (SMD), -0.04; 95% CI, -0.52, 0.43; z=0.18; P=0.86) and hospital stay (SMD, 0.27; 95% CI, -0.02, 0.56; z=1.80; P=0.07) were also statistically similar in both groups. CFD was associated with an increased post-operative pain score (SMD, 1.82; 95% CI, 0.61, 3.03; z=2.95; P=0.003). Conclusion(s): Fascial defect closure in patients undergoing LIVHR does not demonstrate any superiority over no-defect closure in terms of recurrence, post-operative morbidity, post-operative pain duration of operation and length of hospital stay.

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