A prospective study of 1000 XXXX : results of the Plymouth Hernia Service.

@entity1 @entity11570 @entity2737 @entity194 @entity158 @entity547 @entity169
BACKGROUND: A @entity547 service within a general hospital was prospectively evaluated to establish whether evidence-based protocols could deliver results comparable to those reported from specialist @entity547 clinics. METHODS: Protocols were devised according to established models. With the support of a nurse specialist, 1015 @entity1 with @entity169 were treated. Quality-of-life analysis was undertaken using the Short Form 36. RESULTS: @entity1 ranged in age from 16-98 years (median, 56 years). Ambulatory day-case surgery was achieved in 820 @entity1 (81%), with local anaesthesia in 891 (88%). @entity2737 occurred in 10 @entity1 (0.98%). Wound haematoma requiring surgical intervention occurred in three @entity1 . Two @entity1 formed wound seromas that settled spontaneously. One @entity1 developed @entity11570 resulting in @entity194 . At 5 days after operation, 91% of @entity1 had returned to normal activity. At 1 year, 7 @entity1 (0.7%) had @entity158 sufficient to limit normal activity or employment. There were 8 recurrences (0.78%) at a median follow-up of 2.5 years. Quality-of-life was enhanced at 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSION: A protocol-driven @entity547 service within a general hospital can provide @entity1 outcomes comparable to specialist @entity547 clinics.
