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Köckerling F, Sheen AJ, Berrevoet F, Campanelli G, Cuccurullo D, Fortelny R, Friis-Andersen H, Gillion JF, Gorjanc J, Kopelman D, Lopez-Cano M, Morales-Conde S, Österberg J, Reinpold W, Simmermacher RKJ, Smietanski M, Weyhe D, Simons MP. The reality of general surgery training and increased complexity of abdominal wall hernia surgery. Hernia 2019; 23:1081-1091. [PMID: 31754953 PMCID: PMC6938469 DOI: 10.1007/s10029-019-02062-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Accreditation and Certification of Hernia Centers and Surgeons (ACCESS) Group of the European Hernia Society (EHS) recognizes that there is a growing need to train specialist abdominal wall surgeons. The most important and relevant argument for this proposal and statement is the growing acceptance of the increasing complexity of abdominal wall surgery due to newer techniques, more challenging cases and the required 'tailored' approach to such surgery. There is now also an increasing public awareness with social media, whereby optimal treatment results are demanded by patients. However, to date the complexity of abdominal wall surgery has not been properly or adequately defined in the current literature. METHODS A systematic search of the available literature was performed in May 2019 using Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Springer Link, and the Cochrane Library, with 75 publications identified as relevant. In addition, an analysis of data from the Herniamed Hernia Registry was performed. The percentage of patients with hernia- or patient-related characteristics which unfavorably impacted the outcome of inguinal and incisional hernia repair was also calculated. RESULTS All present guidelines for abdominal wall surgery recommend the utilization of a 'tailored' approach. This relies on the prerequisite that any surgical technique used has already been mastered, as well as the recognized learning curves for each of the several techniques that can be used for both inguinal hernia (Lichtenstein, TEP, TAPP, Shouldice) and incisional hernia repairs (laparoscopic IPOM, open sublay, open IPOM, open onlay, open or endoscopic component separation technique). Other hernia- and patient-related characteristics that have recognized complexity include emergency surgery, obesity, recurrent hernias, bilateral inguinal hernias, groin hernia in women, scrotal hernias, large defects, high ASA scores, > 80 years of age, increased medical risk factors and previous lower abdominal surgery. The proportion of patients with at least one of these characteristics in the Herniamed Hernia Registry in the case of both inguinal and incisional hernia is noted to be relatively high at around 70%. In general surgery training approximately 50-100 hernia repairs on average are performed by each trainee, with around only 25 laparo-endoscopic procedures. CONCLUSION A tailored approach is now employed and seen more so in hernia surgery and this fact is referred to and highlighted in the contemporaneous hernia guidelines published to date. In addition, with the increasing complexity of abdominal wall surgery, the number of procedures actually performed by trainees is no longer considered adequate to overcome any recognized learning curve. Therefore, to supplement general surgery training young surgeons should be offered a clinical fellowship to obtain an additional qualification as an abdominal wall surgeon and thus improve their clinical and operative experience under supervision in this field. Practicing general surgeons with a special interest in hernia surgery can undertake intensive further training in this area by participating in clinical work shadowing in hernia centers, workshops and congresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Köckerling
- Department of Surgery and Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Academic Teaching Hospital of Charité Medical School, Vivantes Hospital, Neue Bergstrasse 6, 13585, Berlin, Germany.
| | - A J Sheen
- Department of Surgery, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - F Berrevoet
- Department of General and HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - G Campanelli
- General and Day Surgery Unit, Center of Research and High Specialization for the Pathologies of Abdominal Wall and Surgical Treatment and Repair of Abdominal Hernia, Milano Hernia Center, Instituto Clinico Sant'Ambrogio, University of Insurbria, Milan, Italy
| | - D Cuccurullo
- Department of General, Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery, Chief Week Surgery Departmental Unit, A.O. dei Colli Monaldi Hospital Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - R Fortelny
- Department of General, Visceral and Oncological Surgery, Wilhelminenspital, 1160, Vienna, Austria
- Medical Faculty of Sigmund Freud University, 1020, Vienna, Austria
| | - H Friis-Andersen
- Surgical Department, Horsens Regional Hospital, Aarhus University, Sundvey 30, 8700, Horsens, Denmark
| | - J F Gillion
- Unité de Chirurgie Viscérale, Hôpital Privé d'Antony, 1, Rue Velpeau, 92160, Antony, France
| | - J Gorjanc
- Department of Surgery, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder, Spitalgasse 26, 9300, St. Veit an der Glan, Austria
| | - D Kopelman
- Department of Surgery Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - M Lopez-Cano
- Abdominal Wall Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Morales-Conde
- Unit of Innovation in Minimally Invasive Surgery, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Av. Manuel Siurot, s/n, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - J Österberg
- Department of Surgery, Mora Hospital, 79285, Mora, Sweden
| | - W Reinpold
- Wilhelmsburger Krankenhaus Gross-Sand, Gross-Sand 3, 21107, Hamburg, Germany
| | - R K J Simmermacher
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelbergglaan 100, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M Smietanski
- Department of General Surgery and Hernia Centre, Hospital in Puck, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - D Weyhe
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Hospital for Visceral Surgery, Pius Hospital Oldenburg, Medical Campus University of Oldenburg, Georgstr. 12, 26121, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - M P Simons
- Department of Surgery, OLVG Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Köckerling F, Sheen AJ, Berrevoet F, Campanelli G, Cuccurullo D, Fortelny R, Friis-Andersen H, Gillion JF, Gorjanc J, Kopelman D, Lopez-Cano M, Morales-Conde S, Österberg J, Reinpold W, Simmermacher RKJ, Smietanski M, Weyhe D, Simons MP. Accreditation and certification requirements for hernia centers and surgeons: the ACCESS project. Hernia 2019; 23:185-203. [PMID: 30671899 PMCID: PMC6456484 DOI: 10.1007/s10029-018-1873-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is a need for hernia centers and specialist hernia surgeons because of the increasing complexity of hernia surgery procedures due to new techniques, more difficult cases and a tailored approach with an increasing public awareness demanding optimal treatment results. Therefore, the requirements for accredited/certified hernia centers and specialist hernia surgeons should be formulated by the international and national hernia societies, while taking account of the respective health care systems. METHODS The European Hernia Society (EHS) has appointed a working group composed of 18 hernia experts from all regions of Europe (ACCESS Group-Hernia Accreditation and Certification of Centers and Surgeons-Working Group) to formulate scientifically based requirements for hernia centers and specialist hernia surgeons while taking into consideration different health care systems. A consensus was reached on the key questions by means of a meeting, a telephone conference and the exchange of contributions. The requirements formulated below were deemed implementable by all participating hernia experts in their respective countries. RESULTS The ACCESS Group suggests for an adequately equipped hernia center the following requirements: (a) to be accredited/certified by a national or international hernia society, (b) to perform a higher case volume in all types of hernia surgery compared to an average general surgery department in their country, (c) to be staffed by experienced hernia surgeons who are beyond the learning curve for all types of hernia surgery recommended in the guidelines and are responsible for education and training of hernia surgery in their department, (d) to treat hernia patients according to the current guidelines and scientific recommendations, (e) to document each case prospectively in a registry or quality assurance database (f) to perform follow-up for comparison of their own results with benchmark data for continuous improvement of their treatment results and ensuring contribution to research in hernia treatment. To become a specialist hernia surgeon, the ACCESS Group suggests a general surgeon to master the learning curve of all open and laparo-endoscopic hernia procedures recommended in the guidelines, perform a high caseload and additionally to implement and fulfill the other requirements for a hernia center. CONCLUSION Based on the above requirements formulated by the European Hernia Society for accredited/certified hernia centers and hernia specialist surgeons, the national and international hernia societies can now develop their own programs, while taking account of their specific health care systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Köckerling
- Department of Surgery, Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Academic Teaching Hospital of Charité Medical School, Vivantes Hospital, Neue Bergstrasse 6, 13585, Berlin, Germany.
| | - A J Sheen
- Associate Clinical Head of Division (Surgery), Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - F Berrevoet
- General and HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantations, Pancreas and Abdominal Wall Specialist, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - G Campanelli
- General and Day Surgery Unit, Center of Research and High Specialization for the Pathologies of Abdominal Wall and Surgical Treatment and Repair of Abdominal Hernia, Milano Hernia Center, Instituto Clinico Sant'Ambrogio, University of Insurbria, Milan, Italy
| | - D Cuccurullo
- Chief Week Surgery Departmental Unit, Department of General, Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery, A.O. Dei Colli Monaldi Hospital Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - R Fortelny
- Department of General, Visceral and Oncological Surgery, Wilhelminenspital, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - H Friis-Andersen
- Surgical Department, Horsens Regional Hospital, Horsens, Denmark
| | - J F Gillion
- Unité de Chirurgie Viscérale, Hôpital Privé d'Antony, 1, Rue Velpeau, 92160, Antony, France
| | - J Gorjanc
- Department of Surgery, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder, Spitalgasse 26, 9300, St. Veit an der Glan, Austria
| | - D Kopelman
- Department of Surgery Emek Medical Center, Afula and the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - M Lopez-Cano
- Abdominal Wall Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Morales-Conde
- Unit of Innovation in Minimally Invasive Surgery, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Av. Manuel Siurot, s/n, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - J Österberg
- Department of Surgery, Mora Hospital, 79285, Mora, Sweden
| | - W Reinpold
- Wilhelmsburger Krankenhaus Gross-Sand, Gross-Sand 3, 21107, Hamburg, Germany
| | - R K J Simmermacher
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelbergglaan 100, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M Smietanski
- Department of General Surgery and Hernia Centre, Hospital in Puck, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - D Weyhe
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Hospital for Visceral Surgery, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, Medical Campus University of Oldenburg, Georgstrasse 12, 26121, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - M P Simons
- Department of Surgery, OLVG Hospital, Oosterpark 9, 1091 AC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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