Most hernia surgeries don’t require an overnight stay in hospital
80% of hernia repair surgeries in private hospitals could be completed as day procedures.
The majority of hernia repair surgeries could be completed as day surgeries, reveals a new study from Medibank and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).
Only 20% of hernia repair surgeries conducted in private health facilities are currently completed on the same day, so the projected figure would be a marked improvement.
The study found that same day surgery for repair of inguinal, femoral and umbilical hernia is safe and effective.
“The report by RACS and Medibank highlights that day hernia repair is appropriate for most patients. By going home on the day of surgery, the patient is able to recuperate in their home in a familiar environment and is less likely to suffer a hospital infection post-surgery,” Medibank’s chief medical officer Dr Linda Swan said.
The same report found a huge variance in the cost of many medical procedures in Australia. For instance, the cost of a colonoscopy in Australia could range anywhere from $1,153 to $6,308.
Both Medibank and RACS are committed to finding ways to provide the best treatment for Australian patients.
“By working together on these types of projects to review available research and Medibank data, we are continuing to improve our knowledge about modern healthcare practices and the best ways to ensure patients get the best treatment,” said Swan.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Admitted patient care 2015-16: Australian hospital statistics, inguinal hernia was the 7th most common common procedure in private hospitals (18th in public hospitals).
20 most common principal diagnoses for overnight acute separations
| Principal diagnosis | Public | Private | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single spontaneous delivery | 114,877 | 27,700 | 142,577 |
| Single delivery by caesarean section | 62,818 | 33,044 | 95,862 |
| Pneumonia, organism unspecified | 54,431 | 9,831 | 64,262 |
| Pain in throat and chest | 52,515 | 11,463 | 63,978 |
| Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 52,356 | 7,529 | 59,885 |
| Cellulitis | 44,010 | 7,475 | 51,485 |
| Abdominal and pelvic pain | 42,335 | 9,489 | 51,824 |
| Heart failure | 39,623 | 11,439 | 51,062 |
| Cholelithiasis | 39,066 | 18,885 | 57,951 |
| Acute myocardial infarction | 38,146 | 7,316 | 45,462 |
| Other disorders of urinary system | 35,773 | 10,347 | 46,120 |
| Acute appendicitis | 28,523 | 4,736 | 33,259 |
| Atrial fibrillation and flutter | 26,679 | 14,942 | 41,621 |
| Single delivery by forceps and vacuum extractor | 26,638 | 11,630 | 38,268 |
| Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified | 25,642 | 9,337 | 34,979 |
| Sleep disorders | 19,424 | 61,085 | 80,509 |
| Gonarthrosis (arthrosis of knee) | 17,735 | 37,470 | 55,205 |
| Inguinal hernia | 15,929 | 20,648 | 36,577 |
| Chronic ischaemic heart disease | 12,748 | 19,184 | 31,932 |
| Chronic diseases of tonsils and adenoids | 11,956 | 20,612 | 32,568 |
| Coxarthrosis (arthrosis of hip) | 11,072 | 21,831 | 32,903 |
| Other | 1,928,765 | 776,651 | 2,705,416 |
| Total | 2,701,061 | 1,152,644 | 3,853,705 |
Source: AIHW 2017. Admitted patient care 2015–16: Australian hospital statistics.
The same study found that the average length of stay for hernia procedures (without complications and comorbidities) in private hospitals was roughly 1.2 days.
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