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Therapeutics
Watchful waiting was as safe as surgical repair for minimally symptomatic inguinal hernias

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebm.11.3.73

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    Fitzgibbons RJ Jr, Giobbie-Hurder A, Gibbs JO, et al. Watchful waiting vs repair of inguinal hernia in minimally symptomatic men: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2006;295:285–92.
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 Q In men with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic inguinal hernias, is watchful waiting as safe as surgical repair?

    Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★★☆ Surgery—general ★★★★★★★ Surgery—gastrointestinal ★★★★★★★

    METHODS

    Embedded ImageDesign:

    randomised controlled trial.

    Embedded ImageAllocation:

    concealed.*

    Embedded ImageBlinding:

    blinded (site investigators and study personnel were blinded to outcome data).*

    Embedded ImageFollow up period:

    2 years.

    Embedded ImageSetting:

    4 community and academic centres in the US (Omaha, NE; Marshfield, WI; Dallas, TX; and Albuquerque, NM) and 1 in Canada (Montreal, Quebec).

    Embedded ImagePatients:

    724 men who were ⩾18 years of age (mean age 58 y) and had asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic inguinal hernia (including chronically incarcerated hernias). Exclusion criteria: undetectable hernias, local or systemic infection, or American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status >3. 4 patients were excluded after randomisation because of ineligibility.

    Embedded ImageIntervention:

    watchful waiting (n = 366) or tension free hernia repair (n = 358).

    Embedded ImageOutcomes:

    pain and …

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    Footnotes

    • ↵* See glossary.

    • For correspondence: Dr O Jonasson, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA. ojonasson{at}ameritech.net

    • Sources of Funding: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and American College of Surgeons.

    Linked Articles

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      BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
      BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine 2006; 11 95a-95a Published Online First: 30 May 2006. doi: 10.1136/ebm.11.3.95a