Female Groin Hernia Repairs in the Swedish Hernia Register 1992–2022: A Review With Updates

Introduction: Groin hernias in women is much less common than in men; it constitutes only 9% of all groin hernia operations. Historically, studies have been performed on men and the results applied to both genders. However, prospectively registered operations within national registers have contributed to new knowledge regarding groin hernias in women. The aim of this paper was to investigate and present a body of literature based upon the Swedish Hernia Register together with recent data from the register’s annual report.Patients and Methods: PubMed and Embase were searched for studies based on the Swedish Hernia Register between 1992 and 2023. Based on the initial reading of abstracts, studies that presented results separately for women were selected and read. Recent data were acquired from the 2022 annual report of the Swedish Hernia Register.Results: A total of 73 studies of interest were identified. Of these, 52 included women, but only 19 presented separate results for women. Four themes emerged and were analysed further: emergency surgery and mortality, femoral hernias, the risk of reoperation for recurrence, and chronic pain following female groin hernia repairs.Discussion: Studies from the Swedish Hernia Register clearly describe that both the presentation of hernias and outcomes after repair differ significantly between the two genders. The differences that have been identified over the years have been incorporated into the national guidelines. Register data indicates that the guidelines have been implemented and are fairly well adhered to. As a result, significant improvements in outcomes regarding recurrences have been made for women with groin hernias in Sweden

Femoral and Inguinal Hernia : How to Minimize Adverse Outcomes Following Repair

Groin hernia is common, and each year 200 repairs per 100 000 adult inhabitants are performed in Sweden. Groin hernias are either inguinal or femoral (2-4%). Elective repair is not associated with an excess mortality, but adverse outcomes include recurrence and long-term pain. Emergency procedures have a 4% mortality rate with an increased risk for bowel resection and postoperative complications. The aim of this thesis was to identify risk factors for adverse outcomes and to propose measures to improve groin hernia treatment. Twenty-three per cent of female hernias were femoral. Thirty-six per cent of femoral hernias, and 5% of inguinal hernias, have emergency procedures. Females (OR 1.47) and patients above 65 years-of-age (OR 2.24) were at higher risk for emergency repair. Bowel resection was performed in 23% of emergency femoral repairs, and the 30-day mortality was 10 times that of an age- and gender-matched population. The majority of emergency patients were unaware of their hernia, and one third had previously had no groin symptoms. Femoral repairs were at larger risk for recurrence than inguinal repairs. The surgical techniques with least risk for recurrence were preperitoneal mesh repairs (open HR 0.28, and laparoscopic HR 0.31). Long-term pain was present in 24% of femoral hernia patients, of whom 5.5% described pain interfering with daily activities. The only factor predicting the risk for long-term pain was pain preoperatively. Pain decreased with time. In a randomized study on inguinal hernia, TEP resulted in less pain six weeks after surgery than Lichtenstein repair performed under local anesthesia (LLA). TEP patients were to a larger extent able to perform sporting activities. No difference was seen in intra-operative complications. Femoral hernias should be given high priority for repair and preperitoneal techniques should be used. Earlier diagnosis, in the elective setting, is probably difficult to attain. Heightened awareness in the emergency department is required. TEP is safe, and results in less pain than LLA six weeks after surgery. A widening of indications for TEP in primary inguinal hernia repair is justifiable

Femoral and Inguinal Hernia : How to Minimize Adverse Outcomes Following Repair

Groin hernia is common, and each year 200 repairs per 100 000 adult inhabitants are performed in Sweden. Groin hernias are either inguinal or femoral (2-4%). Elective repair is not associated with an excess mortality, but adverse outcomes include recurrence and long-term pain. Emergency procedures have a 4% mortality rate with an increased risk for bowel resection and postoperative complications. The aim of this thesis was to identify risk factors for adverse outcomes and to propose measures to improve groin hernia treatment. Twenty-three per cent of female hernias were femoral. Thirty-six per cent of femoral hernias, and 5% of inguinal hernias, have emergency procedures. Females (OR 1.47) and patients above 65 years-of-age (OR 2.24) were at higher risk for emergency repair. Bowel resection was performed in 23% of emergency femoral repairs, and the 30-day mortality was 10 times that of an age- and gender-matched population. The majority of emergency patients were unaware of their hernia, and one third had previously had no groin symptoms. Femoral repairs were at larger risk for recurrence than inguinal repairs. The surgical techniques with least risk for recurrence were preperitoneal mesh repairs (open HR 0.28, and laparoscopic HR 0.31). Long-term pain was present in 24% of femoral hernia patients, of whom 5.5% described pain interfering with daily activities. The only factor predicting the risk for long-term pain was pain preoperatively. Pain decreased with time. In a randomized study on inguinal hernia, TEP resulted in less pain six weeks after surgery than Lichtenstein repair performed under local anesthesia (LLA). TEP patients were to a larger extent able to perform sporting activities. No difference was seen in intra-operative complications. Femoral hernias should be given high priority for repair and preperitoneal techniques should be used. Earlier diagnosis, in the elective setting, is probably difficult to attain. Heightened awareness in the emergency department is required. TEP is safe, and results in less pain than LLA six weeks after surgery. A widening of indications for TEP in primary inguinal hernia repair is justifiable

Loop-ileostomy reversal : patient-related characteristics influencing time to closure

PURPOSE: To identify factors associated with timing of stoma reversal after rectal cancer surgery in a large Swedish register-based cohort. METHODS: Three thousand five hundred sixty-four patients with rectal cancer who received a protective stoma during surgery in 2007-2013 were identified in the Swedish colorectal cancer register. Time to stoma reversal was evaluated over a follow-up period of one and a half years. Factors associated with timing of stoma reversal were analysed using Cox regression analysis. Reversal within 9 months (12 months if adjuvant chemotherapy) was considered latest expected time to closure. RESULTS: Stoma reversal was performed in 2954 (82.9%) patients during follow-up. Patients with post-secondary education had an increased chance for early stoma reversal (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.02-1.25). Postoperative complications (0.67; 0.62-0.73), adjuvant chemotherapy (0.63; 0.57-0.69), more advanced cancer stage (stage III 0.74; 0.66-0.83 and stage IV 0.38; 0.32-0.46) and higher ASA score (0.80; 0.71-0.90 for ASA 3-4) were associated with longer time to reversal. Two thousand four hundred thirty-seven (68.4%) patients had stoma reversal within latest expected time to closure. Factors associated to decreased chance of timely reversal were more advanced cancer stage (stage III 0.64; 0.50-0.81 and stage IV 0.19; 0.13-0.27), postoperative complications (0.50; 0.42-0.59) and higher ASA score (0.77; 0.61-0.96 for ASA 3-4). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a high level of education had a higher chance of timely reversal but medical factors had a stronger association to time to reversal. Patients with advanced rectal cancer are at high risk for non-reversal and should be considered for permanent stoma

Risk factors for surgical complications in ventral hernia repair

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for an adverse event, i.e. early surgical complication, need for ICU care and readmission, following ventral hernia repair. Our hypothesis was that there is an association between an increased complication rate following ventral hernia repair and specific factors, including hernia size, BMI > 35, concomitant bowel surgery, ASA-class, age, gender and method of hernia repair. METHODS: Data from a hernia database with prospectively entered data on 408 patients operated for ventral hernia between 2007 and 2014 at two Swedish university hospitals were analysed. A 3-month follow-up of complications, need for intensive care and readmission, was performed by reviewing the medical records. RESULTS: Eighty-one of 408 patients (20%) had a registered complication. Fifty-eight (14%) of these were classed as Clavien I-IIIa, and in 19 cases a Clavien IIIb-IV complication was reported. Large hernia size was associated with increased risk for early complication. A Kendall Tau test analysis revealed a proportional relationship between hernia size and modified Clavien outcome class (p < 0.001). Morbid obesity, ASA-class, method, hernia recurrence, age and concomitant bowel surgery were not statistically significant predictors of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of hernia aperture size is of great importance in the preoperative evaluation of ventral hernia patients to consider risk for post-operative complications. These results suggest a careful attitude when applying watchful waiting concepts and when postponing hernia surgery to achieve weight loss. A delaying attitude may result in increased risk of complications caused by increasing hernia size

The Short-Form Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (sf-IPQ) : An Instrument for Rating Groin Pain After Inguinal Hernia Surgery in Daily Clinical Practice

Background: The Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (IPQ) is a standardised and validated instrument for assessing persisting pain after groin hernia surgery. The IPQ is often perceived as being too extensive for routine use. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a condensed version of the IPQ in order to facilitate its use in daily clinical practice. Methods: The condensed form, i.e. Short-Form Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (sf-IPQ), comprises two main items taken from the IPQ. Four hundred patients were recruited from the Swedish Hernia Register and were sent the IPQ, sf-IPQ and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) three years after hernia repair. Ratings from the IPQ and the sf-IPQ were converted to a 12-point scale. The reported scores for the two shared items in the IPQ and sf-IPQ were compared using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Cohen’s kappa and McNemar’s test. Results: After two reminders, the response rate was 69.8% (n = 279/400). The ICC for the IPQ and sf-IPQ scores was 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.73–0.82, p < 0.001). Cohen’s kappa was 0.66 (95% confidence interval 0.55–0.77, p < 0.001). The sf-IPQ systematically indicated a higher pain score than the IPQ (p = 0.013). Conclusions: Despite the systematic difference in level of pain scored, correlation, consistency and agreement were seen between the IPQ and sf-IPQ. The forms appear to be interchangeable, though the sf-IPQ may be a more sensitive instrument. The condensed structure of the sf-IPQ is more user-friendly and shows promise as a useful tool in daily clinical practice

Costs Related to Diverting Ileostomy After Rectal Cancer Surgery: A Population-Based Healthcare Cost Analysis Based on Nationwide Registers

Low anterior resection for rectal cancer often includes a diverting loop-ileostomy to avoid the severe consequences of anastomotic leakage. Reversal of the stoma is often delayed, which can incur health-care costs on different levels. The aim is to, on population basis, determine stoma-related costs, and to investigate habitual and socioeconomic factors associated to the level of cost. Multi-register design with data from the Swedish Rectal Cancer Registry, the National Prescribed Drug Register, Statistics Sweden and cost-administrative data from the National Board of Health and Welfare. Data was gathered for 3564 patients with rectal cancer surgery 2007 to 2013, for 3 years following the surgery. Factors influencing the cost of inpatient care and stoma-related consumables were assessed with linear regression analyses. All monthly costs were higher for females (consumables PValiderad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-01-05 (hanlid);Full text license: CC BY</p

Quality of life in patients with a permanent stoma after rectal cancer surgery

AIM: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment is important in understanding the patient's perspective and for decision-making in health care. HRQoL is often impaired in patients with stoma. The aim was to evaluate HRQoL in rectal cancer patients with permanent stoma compared to patients without stoma. METHODS: 711 patients operated for rectal cancer with abdomino-perineal resection or Hartman's procedure and a control group (n = 275) operated with anterior resection were eligible. Four QoL questionnaires were sent by mail. Comparisons of mean values between groups were made by Student´s independent t test. Comparison was made to a Swedish background population. RESULTS: 336 patients with a stoma and 117 without stoma replied (453/986; 46 %). A bulging or a hernia around the stoma was present in 31.5 %. Operation due to parastomal hernia had been performed in 11.7 % in the stoma group. Mental health (p = 0.007), body image (p &lt; 0.001), and physical (p = 0.016) and emotional function (p = 0.003) were inferior in patients with stoma. Fatigue (p = 0.019) and loss of appetite (p = 0.027) were also more prominent in the stoma group. Sexual function was impaired in the non-stoma group (p = 0.034). However in the stoma group, patients with a bulge/hernia had more sexual problems (p = 0.004). Pain was associated with bulge/hernia (p &lt; 0.001) and fear for leakage decreased QoL (p &lt; 0.001). HRQoL was impaired compared to the Swedish background population. CONCLUSION: Overall HRQoL in patients operated for rectal cancer with permanent stoma was inferior compared to patients without stoma. In the stoma group, a bulge or a hernia around the stoma further impaired HRQoL

Primary patency of percutaneously inserted self-expanding metallic stents in patients with malignant biliary obstruction

AbstractBackgroundEffective bile duct drainage is crucial to the health-related quality of life of patients with jaundice caused by obstruction of the bile duct by inoperable malignant tumours.MethodsAll patients who were treated at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden with percutaneous stenting between 2000 and 2005 were identified retrospectively. Data on the location of the obstruction and type of stent used, date and cause of death and date of stent failure were abstracted from the patients' notes. Stent patency was defined as the duration from the insertion of the stent to the date of failure. In cases in which the cause of death was directly related to failure of the stent, the date of death was defined as the patency endpoint.ResultsA total of 64 patients (34 women, 30 men) were identified. Their mean age was 71 years (standard deviation 11 years). The median length of patency was 11.4 months. Stent diameter >10mm and distal stricture were found to be associated with significantly longer patency time in univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, only location of the stricture was found to be independently and significantly associated with patency time.DiscussionPercutaneous stenting is a good alternative for patients with obstructive jaundice and a life expectancy ≤1 year. It may give instant relief from the symptoms associated with jaundice. Patency time may be prolonged by using stents with a diameter ≥10mm. However, patency time was found to be lower for hilar tumours