The use, value and safety of herniography

AIMS: To assess the safety, sensitivity and specificity of out-patient hern iography when used to diagnose hernias in the presence of a normal or equiv ocal physical examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the symptoms, clin ical findings, radiological findings, surgical findings and clinical outcom e of 112 patients referred for herniography over a 5-year period. RESULTS: No significant complications were encountered. Thirty hernias were diagnosed. There was one false-positive and one false-negative examination giving herniography a sensitivity of 96.6% and a specificity of 98.4%. CONCLUSION: Herniography is a sensitive, specific, safe and reliable invest igation which should be available to and used by all surgeons who perform h ernia repair operations.