Is minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair performed in emergency surgery in spain?: A nationwide survey

Abstract text (incl. references and figure legends)

AIM:

To describe and assess whether minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair is performed in emergency surgery or not in Spain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An Anonymous survey with 26 questions was sent to all Surgery Residents in Spain by email by Spanish Surgeons Association. Responses were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods

RESULTS

The survey collected a total of 161 answers; 63% of Spanish hospitals declared to have an abdominal wall surgery unit. A total of 83.4% of participants performed minimally invasive abdominal wall surgery in their hospital, but in 78,2% of hospitals this surgery was conducted by 1 or 2 senior surgeons. During elective surgery, a totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair is preferred to a transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approach.

In emergency operation due to a complicated inguinal hernia, more than 93% declared the use of minimally invasive surgery. Nevertheless, only 3% declared this use in more than 50% times. During emergency surgery, TAPP approach is preferred to a TEP repair.

Spanish general surgery residents training in minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair is poor; just 6% performe more than 20 elective surgeries during their residency. In addition, less than 1% performe at least one emergency surgery.

CONCLUSION

This survey shows that minimally invasive techniques in inguinal hernia repair in emergency surgery are underutilized. Greater focus should be placed on the development of dedicated training in these techniques for elective surgery, and therefor emergency one.

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