1375 ABDOMINAL-WALL HERNIA REPAIRS - A 5-YEAR AUDIT FROM ONE-CENTER

Between 1986 and 1990, 1375 abdominal wall hernias were repaired in th is hospital, This study was performed to audit our performance and to detect any changes in practice. 87% of patients were male with a mean age of 43.4 years. There were two age peaks-childhood (8% were less th an a year old) and the mid 60s. Hernias were present for 2.5 veers bef ore referral, The mean waiting list time was only 1.6months but was si gnificantly longer in 1990 (>4.5 months, p<0.05, ANOVA). Coinciding wi th this, the number of hernias repaired annually has fallen by 25%. In guinal hernias accounted for 86% (94% in males). Femoral hernias accou nted for 28% in females, but less than 2% in males, Incisional hernias were also more common in women, as were obstructed and strangulated h ernias (p<0.0001), Hernias were right sided in 57%, 9% were recurrent hernias, 87% of cases were performed electively. The wound infection r ate was 4.5%, post operative stay was five days and recurrence rate 4% . These were all significantly higher in non-elective and recurrent su rgery, The status of the surgeon was also important - consultants and SHOs had a significantly lower recurrence rate than registrars and sen ior registrars (p<0.05, ANOVA).