Standardised Competency-Based Training of Medical Doctors and Associate Clinicians in Inguinal Repair with Mesh in Sierra Leone.

INTRODUCTION: In low-income settings, there is a high unmet need for hernia surgery, and most procedures are performed with tissue repair techniques. In preparation for a randomized clinical trial, medical doctors and associate clinicians received a short-course competency-based training on inguinal hernia repair with mesh under local anaesthesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility, safety and effectiveness of the training. METHODS: All trainees received a one-day theoretical module on mesh hernia repair under local anaesthesia followed by hands-on training. Performance was assessed using the American College of Surgeon's Groin Hernia Operative Performance Rating System. Patients were followed up two weeks and one year after surgery. Outcomes of the patients operated on during the training trial were compared to the 229 trial patients operated on after the training. RESULTS: During three surgical camps, seven medical doctors and six associate clinicians were trained. In total, 129 patients were operated on as part of the training. Of the 13 trainees, 11 reached proficiency. Patients in the training group had more wound infections after two weeks (8.5% versus 3.1%; p = 0.041). There was no difference in recurrence and mortality after one year, and none of the deaths were attributed to the surgery. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Mesh repair is the international standard for inguinal hernia repair worldwide. Nevertheless, this is not widely accessible in low-income settings. This study has demonstrated that short-course intensive hands-on training of MDs and ACs in mesh hernia repair is effective and safe. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Clinical Trial Registry ISRCTN63478884.

Use of endoanal ultrasound in detecting obstetric anal sphincter injury immediately after birth.

INTRODUCTION: Obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) complicates around 5% of deliveries in primiparas. The study objective was to assess the utility of three-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography (3D-EAUS) in the diagnosis of OASI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was designed to mirror screening settings with an unselected cohort of nulliparous women. All enrolled patients underwent clinical examination of the perineum by the caregiver, and 3D-EAUS was conducted. Post-processing of ultrasonography volume data was performed by an experienced colorectal surgeon who was blinded to all other data. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of 3D-EAUS in the diagnosis of OASI was evaluated. The trial is registered at ISCRTN: 18006769. RESULTS: A total of 680 scans were performed, of which 18.5% were judged as "non-assessable", resulting in 554 assessable recordings. Sphincter defects were observed in 12.8% of all assessable recordings on 3D-EAUS (n = 71). With clinical examination set as the reference standard, ultrasound sensitivity in the diagnosis of OASI was 30.4%, whereas its specificity was 87.9%. The negative predictive value was 96.7% and the positive predictive value was only 9.9%. Comments were left on 175 examinations, of which 74% referred to the management of the examination. CONCLUSIONS: Using 3D-EAUS in a maternity ward is demanding because staff generally have little experience in endoanal ultrasound, which contributes to difficulties in obtaining good image quality. When 3D-EAUS is performed to mirror screening settings, it adds no convincing diagnostic power to clinical examination in the diagnosis of OASI.

Chronic Pain After Groin Hernia Surgery in Women: A Patient-reported Outcome Study Based on Data From the Swedish Hernia Register.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate chronic pain 1 year after surgery, and risk factors for chronic pain after groin hernia repair in women. BACKGROUND: Groin hernia surgery in women is less frequently studied than in men. Chronic pain is common after groin hernia surgery and remains an important area with room for improvement. Previous studies are small or inconclusive. Guidelines recommend timely repair of all female groin hernias. METHODS: From the Swedish Hernia Register 4021 female and 37,542 male patients operated between September 1, 2012 and August 30, 2017 responded to a patient-reported outcome questionnaire (response rate 70.0%) 1 year after primary groin hernia surgery. Multivariable analysis was performed to compare chronic postoperative pain in women with men as a control group, and to evaluate risk factors for chronic pain in women. RESULTS: Among women operated for groin hernia, 18% suffered chronic postoperative pain. The risk for chronic pain was significantly higher for women [odds ratio 1.3 (95% confidence interval 1.16-1.46). Three risk factors for chronic pain in women were found: high body mass index, high American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, and femoral hernia. No differences in chronic pain in women were seen when comparing surgical methods or emergency versus elective surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Almost one-fifth of women suffered of chronic pain affecting daily activity after groin hernia repair. Chronic pain was more common for women than men. In view of the high-rate chronic postoperative pain, further research on management strategies in female groin hernia is warranted.

Trocar site hernia after gastric sleeve.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy is common in abdominal surgery. Trocar site hernia (TSH) is a most likely underestimated complication. Among risk factors, obesity, the use of larger trocars and the umbilical trocar site has been described. In a previous study, CT scan in the prone position was found to be a reliable method for the detection of TSH following gastric bypass (LRYGB). In the present study, our aim was to examine the incidence of TSH after gastric sleeve, and further to investigate the proportion of symptomatic trocar site hernias. METHODS: Seventy-nine patients subjected to laparoscopic gastric sleeve in 2011-2016 were examined using CT in the prone position upon a ring. Symptoms of TSH were assessed using a digital survey. RESULTS: The incidence of trocar site hernia was 17 out of 79 (21.5%), all at the umbilical trocar site. The mean follow-up time was 37 months. There was no significant correlation between patient symptoms and a TSH. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of TSH is high after laparoscopic gastric sleeve, a finding in line with several recent studies as well as with our first trial on trocar site hernia after LRYGB. Up to follow-up, none of the patients had been subjected to hernia repair. Although the consequence of a trocar site hernia can be serious, the proportion of symptomatic TSH needs to be more clarified.

Prevalence of Paediatric Surgical Conditions in Eastern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The role of surgery in global health has gained greater attention in recent years. Approximately 1.8 billion children below 15 years live in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Many surgical conditions affect children. Therefore, paediatric surgery requires specific emphasis. Left unattended, the consequences can be dire. Despite this, there is a paucity of data regarding prevalence of surgical conditions in children in LMIC. The present objective was to investigate the prevalence of paediatric surgical conditions in children in a defined geographical area in Eastern Uganda. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site located in Eastern Uganda. Through a two-stage, cluster-based sampling process, 490 households from 49 villages were randomly selected, generating a study population of 1581 children. The children's caregivers were interviewed, and the children were physically examined by two medical doctors to identify any surgical conditions. RESULTS: The interview was performed with 1581 children, and 1054 were physically examined. Among these, the overall prevalence of any surgical condition was 16.0 per cent (n = 169). Of these, 39 per cent had an unmet surgical need (66 of 169). This is equivalent to a 6.3 per cent prevalence of current unmet surgical need. The most common groups of surgical condition were congenital anomalies and trauma-related conditions. CONCLUSION: Surgical conditions in children are common in eastern Uganda. The unmet need for surgery is high. With a growing population, the need for paediatric surgical capacity will increase even further. The health care system must be reinforced to provide services for children with surgical conditions if United Nations Sustainability Development Goal 3 is to be achieved by 2030.

Anal incontinence after caesarean and vaginal delivery in Sweden: a national population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Elective caesarean delivery is increasing rapidly in many countries, and one of the reasons might be that caesarean delivery is widely believed to protect against pelvic floor disorders, including anal incontinence. Previous studies on this issue have been small and with conflicting results. The aim of present study was to compare the risk of developing anal incontinence in women who had a caesarean delivery, in those who had a vaginal delivery, and in two age-matched control groups (nulliparous women and men). METHODS: In this observational population-based study, we included all women in the Swedish Medical Birth Register who gave birth by caesarean delivery or vaginal delivery during 1973-2015 in Sweden and were diagnosed with anal incontinence according to ICD 8-10 in the Swedish National Patient Register during 2001-15. Exclusion criteria were multiple birth delivery, mixed vaginal and caesarean delivery, and four or more deliveries. We compared the diagnosis of anal incontinence between women previously delivered solely by caesarean delivery and those who solely had delivered vaginally. We also compared it with two age-matched control groups of nulliparous women and men from the Swedish Total Population Register. Finally, we analysed risk factors for anal incontinence in the caesarean delivery and vaginal delivery groups. FINDINGS: 3 755 110 individuals were included in the study. Between 1973 and 2015, 185 219 women had a caesarean delivery only and 1 400 935 delivered vaginally only. 416 (0·22 %) of the 185 219 women in the caesarean delivery group were diagnosed with anal incontinence compared with 5171 (0·37%) of 1 400 935 women in the vaginal delivery group. The odds ratio (OR) for being diagnosed with anal incontinence after vaginal delivery compared with caesarean delivery was 1·65 (95% CI 1·49-1·82; p<0·0001). When the combination vaginal delivery and caesarean delivery was compared with the nulliparous control group, the OR of being diagnosed with anal incontinence was 2·05 (1·92-2·19; p<0·0001). For the nulliparous women compared with men, the OR for anal incontinence was 1·89 (1·75-2·05; p<0·0001). The strongest risk factors for anal incontinence after vaginal delivery were high maternal age, high birthweight of the child, and instrumental delivery. The only risk factor for anal incontinence after caesarean delivery was maternal age. INTERPRETATION: The risk of developing anal incontinence increases after pregnancy and delivery. Women with known risk factors for anal incontinence should perhaps be offered a more qualified post-partum examination to enable early intervention in case of injury. Further knowledge for optimal management are needed. FUNDING: County Council of Jämtland.

Groin Hernia Surgery in Uganda: Caseloads and Practices at Hospitals Operating Within the Publicly Funded Healthcare Sector.

BACKGROUND: Groin hernia is a major public health problem with over 200 million people affected. The unmet need for surgery is greatest in Sub-Saharan Africa where specialist surgeons are few. This study was carried out in Uganda to investigate caseloads and practices of groin hernia surgery at publicly funded hospitals. METHODS: The study employed mixed methods covering 29 hospitals: the National Referral Hospital (NRH), 14 Regional Referral Hospitals (RRH) and 14 General Hospitals (GH). In part one of the study, surgeons and medical doctors performing hernia repair were interviewed about their practices and experiences of groin hernia surgery. In part two, operating theater records from 2013 to 2014 from the participating hospitals were reviewed and information about groin hernia operations collected. RESULTS: All respondents reported that sutured repair was the first-choice method. A total of 5518 groin hernia repairs were performed at the participating hospitals, i.e., an annual hernia repair rate of 7/100 000 population. Of the patients operated, almost 16% were women and 24% were children. Local anesthesia (LA) was used in 40% of the cases, and non-surgeon physicians performed 70.3% of the groin hernia repairs. CONCLUSION: Groin hernia repair outputs need to increase along with the training of surgical providers in modern hernia repair methods. Methods and outcomes for hernia repair in women and children should be investigated to improve the quality of care.

A Randomized Trial of Low-Cost Mesh in Groin Hernia Repair.

BACKGROUND: The most effective method for repair of a groin hernia involves the use of a synthetic mesh, but this type of mesh is unaffordable for many patients in low- and middle-income countries. Sterilized mosquito meshes have been used as a lower-cost alternative but have not been rigorously studied. METHODS: We performed a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing low-cost mesh with commercial mesh (both lightweight) for the repair of a groin hernia in adult men in eastern Uganda who had primary, unilateral, reducible groin hernias. Surgery was performed by four qualified surgeons. The primary outcomes were hernia recurrence at 1 year and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 302 patients were included in the study. The follow-up rate was 97.3% after 2 weeks and 95.6% after 1 year. Hernia recurred in 1 patient (0.7%) assigned to the low-cost mesh and in no patients assigned to the commercial mesh (absolute risk difference, 0.7 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.2 to 2.6; P=1.0). Postoperative complications occurred in 44 patients (30.8%) assigned to the low-cost mesh and in 44 patients (29.7%) assigned to the commercial mesh (absolute risk difference, 1.0 percentage point; 95% CI, -9.5 to 11.6; P=1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of hernia recurrence and postoperative complications did not differ significantly between men undergoing hernia repair with low-cost mesh and those undergoing hernia repair with commercial mesh. (Funded by the Swedish Research Council and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN20596933.).

Impact of Mesh Fixation on Chronic Pain in Total Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair (TEP): A Nationwide Register-based Study.

BACKGROUND: Mesh fixation is used to prevent recurrence at the potential risk for chronic pain in TEP. The aim was to compare the impact of permanent fixation (PF) with no fixation (NF)/nonpermanent fixation (NPF) of mesh on chronic pain after TEP repair for primary inguinal hernia. METHODS: Men, 30 to 75 years old, consecutively registered in the Swedish Hernia Register for a TEP primary repair in 2005 to 2009, were included in a mail survey using SF-36 and the Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (IPQ). Primary endpoint was IPQ question "Did you have pain during past week that could not be ignored." Risk factors for chronic pain and recurrent operations were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1110 patients were included (325 PF, 785 NF/NPF) with 7.7% reporting pain at median 33 months follow-up. No difference regarding primary endpoint pain (P < 0.462), IPQ and SF-36 subscales were seen. Recurrent operation was carried out in 1.4% during 7.5 years follow-up with no difference between PF- and NF-groups including subgroups of medial hernias. All SF-36 subscale-scores were equal to or better than the Swedish norm. A postoperative complication was a risk factor for chronic pain (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.23-5.25, P < 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: The TEP procedure for primary inguinal hernia repair in men is associated with a low frequency of chronic pain and recurrent operations, with no difference between permanent fixation and no/nonpermanent fixation of mesh in a nationwide population-based study. TEP without fixation reduces costs and is safe for all patients.

Surgery in district hospitals in rural Uganda-indications, interventions, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: There is a vast unmet need for surgical interventions in resource scarce settings. The poorest 2 billion people share 3·5% of the world's operations. The highest burden of surgical disease is seen in Africa where surgery could avert many deaths. Prospective studies investigating interventions, indications, and outcomes including perioperative mortality rates (POMR) after surgery are scant. The aim of the study was to describe the situation of surgery in a low-income setting in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: In this descriptive, facility-based study, data were prospectively collected in questionnaires by 41 staff employed at two hospitals (Iganga General Hospital and Buluba Mission Hospital) in eastern Uganda during 4 months (major surgeries) and 3 months (minor surgeries) in 2011. Data included patient characteristics, interventions, indications for surgery, and in-hospital mortality after surgery. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyse the data. FINDINGS: 2701 patients underwent 2790 surgical interventions. Of these, 1051 patients underwent major surgery, which corresponds to a major surgery rate of 224·8 per 100 000 population. Most patients undergoing major surgery were women (n=923, 88%). Pregnancy related complications (n=747, 66%) leading to caesarean section (n=496, 47%) and evacuation (n=244, 22%) or gynaecological conditions (n=114, 10%) were common indications for surgery. General surgery interventions registered were herniorrhaphy (n=103, 9%), explorative laparotomy (n=60, 5%), and appendicectomy (n=31, 3%). Overall, the POMR was 0·6% (16 deaths); for major surgery it was 1·3% (14 deaths) and for minor surgeries it was 0·1% (two of 1650 patients). High POMR were seen following explorative laparotomy (13·3%, eight deaths) and caesarean section (0·8%, four deaths). Of the 510 babies delivered through caesarean section, 59 (12%) were still born or died before discharge. INTERPRETATION: Rates of surgery are low in the study setting compared with in high-income settings where surgical rates exceed 11 000 per 100 000 population. POMR are high after exploratory laparotomy and caesarean section. Although very detailed, a larger study could be undertaken to investigate the situation in other settings. Underlying reasons leading to death and quality of surgical care should be investigated further so that POMR can be reduced in this setting. FUNDING: The Swedish Society of Medicine and the Golje Foundation.

Incidence of groin hernia repair after radical prostatectomy: a population-based nationwide study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of groin hernia repair after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer compared with the incidence in a control population without prostate cancer in a nationwide, population-based study. BACKGROUND: Recent reports indicate an increase in the incidence of groin hernia repair after radical prostatectomy. Inadequate knowledge of the incidence of groin hernia in the general population makes this information hard to interpret. METHODS: Information was retrieved from the Prostate Cancer Database (PCBaSe) and Swedish Hernia Register for events between 1998 and 2010. The incidence of groin hernia surgery was calculated for a group of men treated with radical prostatectomy (open and minimally invasive) and for a group treated with radiation therapy, and these were compared with the incidence in a control cohort of men matched for age and county of residence. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the hazard ratio (HR) of groin hernia repair according to age, tumor risk category, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. RESULTS: A total of 28,608 cases and 105,422 controls were included in the study. Men treated with radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy had a significantly higher incidence of groin hernia repair than the control cohort: HR: 3.95 (95% confidence interval: 3.70-4.21) for retropubic prostatectomy, HR: 3.37 (95% confidence interval: 2.95-3.87) for minimally invasive prostatectomy, and HR: 1.84 (95% confidence interval: 1.66-2.04) for radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: An almost 4-fold increase in groin hernia repair was observed after radical prostatectomy compared with controls, and men who received radiation therapy had an almost 2-fold increase in incidence. As well as postoperative changes in the abdominal wall, increased vigilance for groin hernia seems to be important for the increased incidence of groin hernia repair seen after radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

Management of groin hernia repair in Sweden: A register-based comparative analysis of public and private healthcare providers.

BACKGROUND: Swedish healthcare is in a period of transition with an expanding private sector. This study compares quality of outcome after groin hernia repair performed in a public or private healthcare setting. METHODS: A cohort study based on data from the Swedish National Hernia Register combined with Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) 1 year after groin hernia repair. Between September 2012 and December 2018, a questionnaire was sent to all patients registered in the hernia register 1 year after surgery. Endpoints were reoperation for recurrence, chronic pain, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: From a total of 87,650 patients with unilateral groin hernia repair, 61,337 PROM answers (70%) were received from 71 public and 28 private healthcare providers. More females, acute and recurrent cases, and patients with high American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores were operated under the national healthcare system. The private sector had more experience surgeons with higher annual volume per surgeon, shorter time on waiting lists, and shorter operation times. No difference was seen in patient satisfaction. Groin hernia repair performed in a private clinic was associated with less postoperative chronic pain (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.8-0.91) but a higher recurrence rate (HR 1.41; 95% CI 1.26-1.59) in a multivariable logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Despite private clinics having a higher proportion of experienced surgeons and fewer complex cases, the recurrence rate was higher, whereas the risk for chronic postoperative pain was higher among patients treated in the public sector.

The correlation between small papillary thyroid cancers and gamma radionuclides Cs-137, Th-232, U-238 and K-40 using spatially-explicit, register-based methods.

A steep increase of small papillary thyroid cancers (sPTCs) has been observed globally. A major risk factor for developing PTC is ionizing radiation. The aim of this study is to investigate the spatial distribution of sPTC in Sweden and the extent to which prevalence is correlated to gamma radiation levels (Caesium-137 (Cs-137), Thorium-232 (Th-232), Uranium-238 (U-238) and Potassium-40 (K-40)) using multiple geospatial and geostatistical methods. The prevalence of metastatic sPTC was associated with significantly higher levels of Gamma radiation from Th-232, U-238 and K-40. The association is, however, inconsistent and the prevalence is higher in densely populated areas. The results clearly indicate that sPTC has causative factors that are neither evenly distributed among the population, nor geographically, calling for further studies with bigger cohorts. Environmental factors are believed to play a major role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Risk factors for complications in groin hernia surgery: a national register study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze and identify risk factors for postoperative complications and analyze the relative risk of reoperation for recurrence for respective complication. BACKGROUND: The outcome of groin hernia surgery is evaluated mostly by comparing recurrence rates and long-term pain. The aim of this observational population-based registry study was to identify risk factors for postoperative complications and analyze the relative risk of reoperation for recurrence for respective complication. METHODS: Using data from the nationwide Swedish Hernia Register between 1998 and 2009, 150,514 herniorrhaphies were analyzed with respect to postoperative complications occurring within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: Risk factors significantly affecting the rate of postoperative complications were laparoscopic repair (odds ratio [OR] 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-1.47) and open preperitoneal techniques (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.15-1.49), with open anterior mesh as reference category. Other significant risk factors were general (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.23-1.37) and regional anesthesia (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.43-1.63), with local anesthesia as reference category, emergency procedures (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.43-1.63); recurrent hernia repair (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.27-1.52); femoral hernia (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.14-1.48); aged older than 65 years (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.21-1.31); and duration of surgery exceeding 50 minutes (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.22-1.33). CONCLUSIONS: Open anterior approach and surgery under local anesthesia are associated with less risk of postoperative complications.

The Impact of Hospital Level of Care on the Management of Acute Cholecystitis: a Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: The organization of healthcare could have an impact on the outcome of patients treated for acute cholecystitis (AC). The aim of this study was to analyze the way in which patients with AC are managed relative to the level of care by the treating hospital. METHODS: Data were collected from the Swedish Register for Gallstone Surgery and ERCP (GallRiks). Cholecystectomies between 2010 and 2019 were included. The inclusion criterion was acute cholecystectomy in patients with AC operated at either tertiary referral centers (TRCs) or regional hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 24,194 cholecystectomies with AC met the inclusion criterion. The time between admission and acute surgery was significantly elongated at TRCs compared with regional hospitals (2.2 ± 1.7 days vs. 1.6 ± 1.4 days, mean ± SD; p < 0.0001). Patients with a history of AC were more frequent at TRC (10.1% vs. 8.9%, p < 0.0056) and had a higher adverse event rate compared with those at regional hospitals (OR 1.61; CI 1.40-1.84, p < 0.0001). Surprisingly, an increased number of hospital beds correlated slightly with an increased number of days between admission and surgery (R2 = 0.132; p = 0.0075). CONCLUSION: Compared with regional hospitals, patients with AC had to wait longer at TRCs before surgery. A history of AC significantly increased the risk of adverse events. These findings indicate that logistic and organizational aspects of hospital care may affect the management of patients with AC. However, whether these findings can be generalized to healthcare organizations outside Sweden requires further investigation.

Collaboration between the Danish and Swedish hernia registers - a study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The most common laparo-endoscopic groin hernia repair techniques are TEP (total extraperitoneal) and TAPP (transabdominal preperitoneal) repair. Despite geographic proximity, Swedish surgeons distinctively favour TEP, whereas Danish surgeons prefer TAPP. The aim of this study is to analyse the risk of reoperation for recurrence after TAPP, TEP and Lichtenstein repair using data from two nationwide registers. We also aim to discuss advantages of international collaboration between nationwide registers. METHODS: All groin hernia operations registered as TEP, TAPP or Lichtenstein repair in the Swedish Hernia Register and the Danish Hernia Database between January 2004 and December 2020 will be included. Cumulative hazard rate of reoperation for recurrence will be estimated using Cox-regression analyses adjusted for age and anatomy. CONCLUSION: Approximately 400,000 operations are estimated to have been registered prospectively in the inclusion period in the registers. The merging of two nationwide registers was made possible owing to close cooperation between the register steering committees and by obtaining the necessary approvals. This unique collaboration between nationwide registers will make it possible to compare the risk of reoperation for recurrence after TAPP, TEP and Lichtenstein repair on an international level. In future, similar collaboration may be established to explore other outcomes such as complication rates and chronic pain. FUNDING: This study protocol is financed by grants generated from Sahlgrenska University Hospital (ALF grant ALFGBG-733561, an agreement concerning research and education of doctors) and the Swedish Society of Medicine (SLS-784551). TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

Cardiovascular complications following cesarean section and vaginal delivery: a national population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Rates of cesarean section are rising in both developed and developing countries and while pregnancy and cesarean section are established as risk factors for thromboembolism and stroke, large population-based investigations focusing on all types of cardiovascular complication after delivery is missing. The aim was to analyze the risk of severe cardiovascular complications in the post-partum period following delivery by cesarean section. We also had a control group of vaginal deliveries and a reference group with nulliparas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This Swedish population-based study used three national registers between 2005 and 2017 and comprised a total of 1 165 684 individuals. Unselected register data was cross-linked and cardiovascular adverse events were identified by ICD diagnosis codes. 140 128 women (209 391 deliveries) were included in the cesarean group and 614 355 women (973 429 deliveries) in the vaginal control group. The reference group comprised 411 201 age-matched nulliparous women. The primary analysis was the risk of severe cardiovascular complications within 42 days of cesarean section or vaginal delivery. The secondary analysis evaluated risk factors for cardiovascular complications. RESULTS: In the cesarean section group, 410 (0.20%) had a serious cardiovascular event within 42 days after delivery, and in the vaginal control group the number was 857 (0.09%). The risk of having an adverse cardiovascular event was significantly greater in the cesarean group (OR 2.23, CI 1.98 to 2.51) for all types of cardiovascular events. Risk factors were high BMI, preeclampsia, greater maternal age, tobacco use and acute cesarean delivery. CONCLUSIONS: The absolute numbers on severe maternal morbidity after delivery are low. However, since almost half of the world's population are affected and the frequency of elective cesarean section continues to rise, a doubling of the risk for a severe cardiovascular event within 42 days of delivery is important to consider globally.

Chronic pain after femoral hernia repair: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence of and to identify possible risk factors for chronic pain after surgery for femoral hernia. BACKGROUND: Chronic pain has become a very important outcome in quality assessment of inguinal hernia surgery. There are no studies on the risk for chronic pain after femoral hernia surgery. METHODS: The Inguinal Pain Questionnaire was sent to 1967 patients who had had a repair for primary unilateral femoral hernia between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2006. A follow-up period of at least 18 months was chosen. Answers from 1461 patients were matched with data recorded in the Swedish Hernia Register and analyzed. RESULTS: Some degree of pain during the previous week was reported by 24.2% (354) of patients. Pain interfered with daily activities in 5.5% (81) of patients. Emergency surgery (OR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.40-0.74) and longer time since surgery (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.89-0.98 for each year added) were associated with lower risk for chronic postoperative pain, whereas a high level of preoperative pain was associated with a higher risk for chronic pain (OR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.10-1.25). Surgical technique was not found to influence the risk for chronic pain in multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic postoperative pain is as important a complication after femoral hernia surgery as it is after inguinal hernia surgery. In contrast to inguinal hernia surgery, no risk factor related to surgical technique was found. Further investigations into the role of preoperative pain are necessary.

Assessing the Validity and Cover Rate of the National Swedish Hernia Register.

AIM: To assess the validity and cover rate of the Swedish hernia register. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since the start of the Swedish Hernia register an annual review of randomly selected hospitals has been carried out, and since 2013 in a more standardized form to allow a systematic data collection and evaluation. 10% of all clinics were randomly selected each year in a specific region of Sweden, ensuring a systematic validation of all regions from north to south. Data from 2013 to 2018 were analyzed regarding data quality and from 2014 to 2018 regarding cover rate. All operations registered at the validated clinics were compared with the Swedish Hernia Register to assess cover rate. Fifty operations were randomly selected at each clinic and data in the Swedish Hernia register were compared with the medical records to evaluate data quality. RESULTS: Fifty-five clinics was evaluated and a total of 73,764 variables were compared with the medical records. Cover rate between 2014 and 2018 was 97%. The proportion of correct variables was 98% between 2013 and 2018. Most frequent errors were ASA score, date at which the patient was put on the waiting list and postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: This unique validation of a national hernia register shows a high cover rate and good quality of data. Efforts to maintain and improve national registers are of great importance. Research with data from the Swedish hernia register should be evaluated on the basis of the results presented in this study.