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An evaluation of hernia education in surgical residency programs

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate surgical residents’ educational experience related to ventral hernias.

Methods

A 16-question survey was sent to all program coordinators to distribute to their residents. Consent was obtained following a short introduction of the purpose of the survey. Comparisons based on training level were made using χ2 test of independence, Fisher’s exact, and Fisher’s exact with Monte Carlo estimate as appropriate. A p value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

The survey was returned by 183 residents from 250 surgical programs. Resident postgraduate year (PG-Y) level was equivalent among groups. Preferred techniques for open ventral hernia varied; the most common (32 %) was intra-abdominal placement of mesh with defect closure. Twenty-two percent of residents had not heard of the retrorectus technique for hernia repair, 48 % had not performed the operation, and 60 % were somewhat comfortable with and knew the general categories of mesh prosthetics products. Mesh choices, biologic and synthetic, varied among the different products. The most common type of hernia education was teaching in the operating room in 87 %, didactic lecture 69 %, and discussion at journal club 45 %. Number of procedures, comfort level with open and laparoscopic techniques, indications for mesh use and technique, familiarity and use of retrorectus repair, and type of hernia education varied significantly based on resident level (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Exposure to hernia techniques and mesh prosthetics in surgical residency programs appears to vary. Further evaluation is needed and may help in standardizing curriculums for hernia repair for surgical residents.

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Acknowledgments

WWH declares these activities not directly related to the submitted work: Institution received money for writing articles for eMedicine. Institution received money for participating in the Ethicon International Hernia Mesh Registry. Institution received money for the review of medical records in legal cases. WWH received a SAGES grant in 2012 for a research project still in progress.

DO, AA, WH, CK and TC has no conflicts of interest related to the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, South East Area Health Education Center, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, 2131 South 17th Street, PO Box 9025, Wilmington, NC, 28401, USA

    W. W. Hope, B. O’Dwyer, A. Adams, W. B. Hooks III, C. A. Kotwall & T. V. Clancy

Authors
  1. W. W. Hope
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  2. B. O’Dwyer
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  3. A. Adams
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  4. W. B. Hooks III
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  5. C. A. Kotwall
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  6. T. V. Clancy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. W. Hope.

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Hope, W.W., O’Dwyer, B., Adams, A. et al. An evaluation of hernia education in surgical residency programs. Hernia 18, 535–542 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-013-1104-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-013-1104-9

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