Failures in Hernia Surgery Done by Experts

Abstract

As an invitee to Dr. Volker Schumpelick’s fourth triennial meeting in St. Moritz (2006), my assignment was to present answers to why expert hernia surgeons don’t always have perfect results. Stated another way, why do some repairs done by experts fail? Clearly, this was one of the most difficult topics I have been asked to write about. Research in the printed surgical literature has been less than fruitful. Textbooks and journals mention generally accepted factors related to hernia repair failure, usually as a prologue to the subject of recurrence. These articles and texts do not distinguish causes of failure by experts from non-expert hernia surgeons. Finding limited value from the printed literature for answers to the assigned question, I sought information directly from colleagues who have demonstrated unusual interest, additional experience, or have recognized expertise in herniology.