How often are patients with clinically apparent inguinal hernias referred to a surgeon accompanied with an ultrasound? A prospective multicentre study.

ConclusionThis study found that almost one in two patients referred to a surgeon with a clinically obvious inguinal hernia also underwent a groin ultrasound. These studies represent an unnecessary waste of limited healthcare resources and low-value medical care because they rarely affect the final diagnosis or surgical management.What is known about the topic?Inguinal hernias are one of the most common presenting complaints to surgeons in Australia. Currently, there are no accepted Australian guidelines for the diagnosis of inguinal hernias. Ultrasound investigation has been shown to aid diagnosis when there is uncertainty after physical examination. There is increasing concern regarding low-value medical care that contributes to a significant waste of healthcare resources within Australia. The use of ultrasounds for the diagnosis of clinically apparent inguinal hernias is a potential area of concern.What does this paper add?This paper is the first to estimate the frequency of ultrasounds being ordered for clinically apparent inguinal hernias. The study shows that approximately one in two patients who present to surgeons with a clinically obvious inguinal hernia have an ultrasound. GPs were the major referral source for these ultrasounds. Finally, these ultrasounds rarely altered final diagnosis or management for patients who presented to surgeons for definitive management.What are the implications for practitioners?This study confirms that ultrasounds for clinically obvious ...

Source: Australian Health Review - August 27, 2020 Category: Hospital Management Authors: Naidoo P, Levett K, Lord S, Meagher A, Williams N, Aczel T Tags: Aust Health Rev Source Type: research