Cirugía española
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Multicenter Study
[National project for the management of clinical processes. Surgical treatment of inguinal hernia].
The high prevalence of surgical treatment for inguinal hernia (especially in general surgery) prompted the Spanish Association of Surgeons to perform a national study to identify the most important indicators. ⋯ Analysis of the process revealed areas for improvement and strong points. Strong points consisted of up-to-date choice of surgical technique. The most frequently used techniques were tension-free procedures and the Shouldice technique. The following areas for improvement were identified: adherence to protocols for preoperative evaluation, increased use of ambulatory surgery, local anesthesia and sedation, appropriate use of antibiotic and thromboembolic prophylaxis in selected patients and a reduction in the length of hospital stay in inpatients. Patient satisfaction with the treatment was acceptable.