Abstract
Purpose: We clarified the feasibility of inguinal hernia surgery by junior residents. Materials & Methods: We analyzed 139 retrospective cases of radical inguinal hernia surgery between April 2005 and December 2007. Of these, 134 involved mesh-plug repair and 5 Prolene hernia repair. We retrospectively compared the recurrence rate, the rate of complications, blood loss volume, operating time, and the length of postoperative hospital stay between patients treated surgically by junior residents (group R, n=72) and those treated by surgical staff (group S, n=67). Results: Total rates of recurrence and complication were 5.8% in group R and 8.6% in group S, respectively. Significant statistical differences were seen between groups in recurrence rate (group R, 9.7%; group S, 1.5%: p<0.05) and operating time (group R, 88 min; group S, 64 min: p<0.001). No statistically significant difference was seen in blood loss volume, rate of complications, or the length of postoperative hospital stay. Conclusions: The incidence of short-term complications in inguinal hernia surgery conducted by junior residents was identical to that of surgical staff. The high recurrence rate seen in inguinal hernia surgery by junior residents evoked, however, the need to implement surgical treatment guidelines for junior residents.
