Objective: To analyze mortality following groin hernia operations. Summary Background Data: It is well known that the incidence of groin hernia in men exceeds the incidence in women by a factor of 10. However, gender differences in mortality following groin hernia surgery have not been explored in detail. Methods: The study comprises all patients 15 years or older who underwent groin hernia repair between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 2005 at units participating in the Swedish Hernia Register (SHR). Postoperative mortality was defined as standardized mortality ratio (SMR) within 30 days, ie, observed deaths of operated patients over expected deaths considering age and gender of the population in Sweden. Results: A total of 107,838 groin hernia repairs (103,710 operations), were recorded prospectively. Of 104,911 inguinal hernias, 5280 (5.1%) were treated emergently, as compared with 1068 (36.5%) of 2927 femoral hernias. Femoral hernia operations comprised 1.1% of groin hernia operations on men and 22.4% of operations on women. After femoral hernia operation, the mortality risk was increased 7-fold for both men and women. Mortality risk was not raised above that of the background population for elective groin hernia repair, but it was increased 7-fold after emergency operations and 20-fold if bowel resection was undertaken. Overall SMR was 1.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.2–1.6) for men and 4.2 (95% confidence interval, 3.2–5.4) for women, in accordance with a greater proportion of emergency operations among women compared with men, 17.0%, versus 5.1%. Conclusions: Mortality risk following elective hernia repair is low, even at high age. An emergency operation for groin hernia carries a substantial mortality risk. After groin hernia repair, women have a higher mortality risk than men due to a greater risk for emergency procedure irrespective of hernia anatomy and a greater proportion of femoral hernia.

Objective: The aim of our study is to assess the association between preoperative level of activity and recovery after breast cancer surgery measured as hospital stay, length of sick leave and self-assessed physical and mental recovery. Design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: Patients included were those scheduled to undergo breast cancer surgery, between February and November 2013, at two participating hospitals in the Western Region of Sweden. Participants: Patients planned for breast cancer surgery filled out a questionnaire before, as well as at 3 and 6 weeks after the operation. The preoperative level of activity was self-assessed and categorised into four categories by the participants using the 4-level Saltin-Grimby Physical Activity Level Scale (SGPALS). Main outcome measure: Our main outcome was postoperative recovery measured as length of sick leave, in-hospital stay and self-assessed physical and mental recovery. Results: 220 patients were included. Preoperatively, 14% (31/220) of participants assessed themselves to be physically inactive, 61% (135/220) to exert some light physical activity (PA) and 20% (43/220) to be more active (level 3+4). Patients operated with mastectomy versus partial mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection versus sentinel node biopsy were less likely to have a short hospital stay, relative risk (RR) 0.88 (0.78 to 1.00) and 0.82 (0.70 to 0.96). More active participants (level 3 or 4) had an 85% increased chance of feeling physically recovered at 3 weeks after the operation, RR 1.85 (1.20 to 2.85). No difference was seen after 6 weeks. Conclusions: The above study shows that a higher preoperative level of PA is associated with a faster physical recovery as reported by the patients 3 weeks post breast cancer surgery. After 6 weeks, most patients felt physically recovered, diminishing the association above. No difference was seen in length of sick leave or self-assessed mental recovery between inactive or more active patients.

To assess the incidence of groin hernia repair after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer compared with the incidence in a control population without prostate cancer in a nationwide, population-based study. Recent reports indicate an increase in the incidence of groin hernia repair after radical prostatectomy. Inadequate knowledge of the incidence of groin hernia in the general population makes this information hard to interpret. Information was retrieved from the Prostate Cancer Database (PCBaSe) and Swedish Hernia Register for events between 1998 and 2010. The incidence of groin hernia surgery was calculated for a group of men treated with radical prostatectomy (open and minimally invasive) and for a group treated with radiation therapy, and these were compared with the incidence in a control cohort of men matched for age and county of residence. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the hazard ratio (HR) of groin hernia repair according to age, tumor risk category, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. A total of 28,608 cases and 105,422 controls were included in the study. Men treated with radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy had a significantly higher incidence of groin hernia repair than the control cohort: HR: 3.95 (95% confidence interval: 3.70-4.21) for retropubic prostatectomy, HR: 3.37 (95% confidence interval: 2.95-3.87) for minimally invasive prostatectomy, and HR: 1.84 (95% confidence interval: 1.66-2.04) for radiation therapy. An almost 4-fold increase in groin hernia repair was observed after radical prostatectomy compared with controls, and men who received radiation therapy had an almost 2-fold increase in incidence. As well as postoperative changes in the abdominal wall, increased vigilance for groin hernia seems to be important for the increased incidence of groin hernia repair seen after radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

Background Chronic pain after groin hernia repair is a significant problem, and it is unclear whether or not lightweight meshes help. This national register‐based study investigated whether patients who underwent open anterior mesh inguinal hernia repair with lightweight mesh had less chronic pain than those who had hernia repair with heavyweight mesh. Methods All patients registered in the Swedish Hernia Register between September 2012 and October 2016 were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing patient‐reported outcome measures 1 year after surgery. The present study examined open anterior repair with mesh sutured in place with non‐absorbable sutures in male patients only. The primary endpoint, chronic pain, was defined as pain present in the past week that could not be ignored and interfered with concentration (on chores) and daily activities. Results In total, 23 259 male patients provided data for analysis (response rate 70·6 per cent). Rates of chronic pain after repairs using regular polypropylene lightweight mesh, composite (poliglecaprone‐25) polypropylene lightweight mesh and polypropylene heavyweight mesh were 15·8, 15·6 and 16·2 per cent respectively. Adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis showed no significant differences between regular (odds ratio (OR) 0·98, 95 per cent c.i. 0·90 to 1·06) or composite (OR 0·95, 0·86 to 1·04) lightweight mesh versus heavyweight mesh. The most striking risk factor for chronic pain was young age; 19·4 per cent of patients aged less than 50 years experienced pain 1 year after hernia repair (OR 1·43, 1·29 to 1·60). Conclusion Patient‐reported chronic pain 1 year after open mesh repair of inguinal hernia was common, particularly in young men. The risk of developing chronic pain was not influenced by the type of mesh.