Day hospital for incisional hernia repair: selection criteria.

AIM: The authors report their experience with incisional hernia repair and set criteria for the safe performance of the procedure on a day hospital basis.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

From January 1994 to July 2005, 29 day hospital procedures for incisional hernia were performed under local anaesthesia. Selection criteria included: a hernial defect < 10 cm, a reducible hernial sac and negative history for obstructive symptoms. The repair was achieved with a polypropylene plug in defects < 3 cm and a double layer mesh in larger defects.

RESULTS

All patients were discharged within 7 hours of surgery. Postoperative pain was mild and required hospital analgesia in 30% of cases. Back at home analgesia was needed in only three patients (10%). Six patients (20%) developed a seroma that reabsorbed spontaneously. During a follow-up ranging 6 to 120 months (mean 75), no recurrence has been recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

In selected patients, incisional hernia repair as day hospital procedure is feasible, safe and absolutely effective. The use of polypropylene plugs and meshes accounts for a sound repair with low risk of complications.