LAPAROSCOPIC HERNIORRHAPHY: PREFERENCE RATE AMONG SURGEONS IN ANKARA, TURKEY

Abstract

Objective: To determine the surgeons' and the surgical residents' choice for inguinal hernia
repair.
Design: A questionnaire study.
Subjects: One hundred and forty two respondents who work in surgical clinics as surgeons
or residents.
Setting: University hospitals and non-academic teaching hospitals in Ankara, Turkey.
Muin outcome measure: The preference rates of open and laparoscopic hernia repairs for
respondents' own inguinal hernias: "If you had an inguinal hernia, how would you prefer to
have it repaired?"
Results: Only 14.1 % of the respondents preferred a laparoscopic hernia repair. Eight of 63
residents (12.7%) and 12 of 79 surgeons (15.2%) chose laparoscopic technique for their own
hernia (p=0.67). Personal laparoscopic herniorrhaphy experience significantly affected the
choice. Among 118 respondents who had performed no brparoscopic hernia repair, only 12
(10.2%) preferred laparoscopic technique for their own inguinal hernias, whereas the
preference rate rose to 33.3% in other 24 participants who had previously done laparoscopic
hernia repair (p=0.03). The only independent variable in multivariate analysis was personal
experience on laparoscopic herniorrhaphy (SE:0.33, Wald 11.73, Sig:0.0006). The majority
of the respondents who preferred open hernia repair stated that it was a better known
technique. Other common reasons for open repair were being better repair and the
advantage of local anesthesia. Top three reasons for choosing laparoscopic hernia repair
were less pain, short hospital stay and early return to normal activity.
Conclusion: Majority of surgeons and residents still prefer open hernia repair.