Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39285038›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2024

Hidden hernias hurt: a plea for early diagnosis and treatment of occult inguinal hernias.

Harry J Wong, Cherin Oh, Shirin Towfigh

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In one paragraph

Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Harry J WongDepartment of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Cherin OhBeverly Hills Hernia Center, 450 N Roxbury Drive, #224, Beverly Hills, CA, 90210, USA.
Shirin TowfighBeverly Hills Hernia Center, 450 N Roxbury Drive, #224, Beverly Hills, CA, 90210, USA. drtowfigh@beverlyhillsherniacenter.com.ORCID 0000-0002-1016-7993

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHidden or occult inguinal hernias are symptomatic hernias that do not present with a bulge. For some surgeons, if a bulge is not present, then no hernia repair is contemplated. We report preoperative findings of patients with occult inguinal hernias and outcomes after repair to assist in early detection and treatment of this special population.

methodsAll patients who underwent inguinal hernia repairs, 2008-2019, were reviewed. Patients were classified as having occult inguinal hernias if they (a) complained of groin pain, (b) did not have bulging on exam, (c) had supportive imaging showing an inguinal hernia, and (d) were confirmed to have inguinal hernias that were repaired intraoperatively. Presentation and outcomes were compared with the non-occult group treated during the same time period.

resultsOf 485 patients who underwent elective inguinal hernia repairs over 10 years, 212 (44%) had occult inguinal hernias. Patients in the occult group were significantly more likely to be female, younger, and with higher BMI compared to the non-occult group. They also had more preoperative pain for a significantly longer time. This was associated with higher incidence of pain medications usage, including opioids, in the occult group. On physical examination, those with occult hernias were twice as likely to have tenderness over the inguinal canal. Most hernia repairs (66%) were laparoscopic and 94% used mesh. Postoperatively, the occult group had 83% resolution of symptoms after hernia repair.

conclusionSome surgeons hesitate recommending hernia repair to patients with occult inguinal hernias, as these patients do not fit the traditional definition of a hernia, i.e., a bulge. Our study challenges this perception by showing that discounting groin pain due to occult hernia prolongs patient's suffering and may risk increased opioid use, especially in females, although 83% cure can be achieved with hernia repair.

Indexed as

Early DiagnosisHernia, InguinalHerniorrhaphyAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSurgical MeshGender disparityGroin painInguinal hernia repairInguinodyniaOccult inguinal hernia

Identifiers

PMID39285038

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.