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The Usefulness of International Cooperation in the Repair of Inguinal Hernias in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Abstract

Introduction

The burden of disease and mortality associated with inguinal hernia in Africa, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, is very high. The purpose of this study is to show that International Cooperation work in the field of hernia repair is effective; it minimizes the delay in hernia repairs in the targeted population, and can prevent a large number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

Materials and methods

As a part of an International Cooperation program, a total of 990 black patients with inguinal hernias were studied, in whom hernioplasty was performed using polypropylene mesh. The type of hernia and surgical technique were studied. Indicators of scientific and technical quality, indicators of efficiency and of effectiveness were analyzed. The results on the usefulness of interventions were calculated as avoided DALYs.

Results

Surgery was performed on 926 patients with a total of 1033 hernia repairs. 87.2 % of the repairs were made with mesh. There was no mortality in the series, complications were minor, and 85.7 % of patients remained less than 24 h in the center. There was a 2.8 % of recurrence, with a follow-up 58.7 % of the patients in the first year. 5014 DALYs were avoided, and the average of the avoided DALYs per patient was of 5.41.

Conclusions

Hernia repair with mesh in low development countries is a procedure with low morbidity and high effectiveness that can prevent a large number of DALYs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surgery, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain

    José Gil, J. M. Rodriguez, E. Gil, Q. Hernández Agúera & P. Parrilla

  2. Surgery, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain

    F. M. González

  3. Anesthesia, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain

    J. A. García & J. A. Tortosa

  4. Surgery, Hospital Universitario Santa Lucía, Cartagena, Murcia, Spain

    M. D. Balsalobre

  5. Nursing, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain

    D. Hernández Palazón

  6. Surgery, Sikasso Hospital, Sikasso , Mali

    A. B. Diallo

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  1. José Gil
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  3. E. Gil
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Correspondence to José Gil.

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Gil, J., Rodriguez, J.M., Gil, E. et al. The Usefulness of International Cooperation in the Repair of Inguinal Hernias in Sub-Saharan Africa. World J Surg 39, 2622–2629 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-015-3161-y

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