Postoperative outcomes among patients evaluated via telemedicine-based preoperative consultations for inguinal hernia care
- 18.09.2024
- Original Article
Erschienen in:
- Verfasst von
- Zev Felix
- Gustavo Salgado-Garza
- Caroline G. Porter
- Nelly Nouboussi
- Amber L. O’Connor
- Alina Bazarian
- Vahagn C. Nikolian
- Erschienen in
- Hernia | Ausgabe 6/2024
Abstract
Purpose
In an era where telehealth is gaining traction within healthcare systems, its integration into preoperative assessment protocols presents both challenges and opportunities. Preoperative assessments have an important role in determining the best plan of action for each patient. Recent studies have reported adequate operative outcomes after telemedicine preoperative consultations. This study examines telehealth’s efficacy relative to traditional in-person evaluations in the context of preoperative consultations for inguinal hernia repairs and provides a deeper insight into how telemedicine might be utilized for pre-surgical assessments.
Methods
We analyzed a prospectively maintained single-center database at a tertiary referral hospital with a dedicated hernia and abdominal wall reconstruction center for pre, intra and postoperative variables comparing patients that received telemedicine (phone or video) preoperative consultations versus in-person clinic visits only. Secondary analysis with propensity score matching was employed to adjust for possible confounders.
Results
265 patients that underwent inguinal hernia repair were included, with 60 encounters being telemedicine only and the rest in-person. This analysis found no difference in rates of postoperative complications between the telemedicine and in-person groups. The telemedicine group required less preoperative encounters with their surgeon (P < 0.001). In the preoperative in-person group, 41% switched to virtual follow-ups, while in the virtual group, only 18% chose in-person follow-ups (P = 0.003).
Conclusions
Based on our analysis, the use of telemedicine for preoperative assessments in inguinal hernia repairs as a feasible and safe choice for patients opting for this approach, potentially reshaping the preoperative paradigm in surgical practices.
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- Titel
- Postoperative outcomes among patients evaluated via telemedicine-based preoperative consultations for inguinal hernia care
- Verfasst von
-
Zev Felix
Gustavo Salgado-Garza
Caroline G. Porter
Nelly Nouboussi
Amber L. O’Connor
Alina Bazarian
Vahagn C. Nikolian
- Publikationsdatum
- 18.09.2024
- Verlag
- Springer Paris
- Erschienen in
-
Hernia / Ausgabe 6/2024
Print ISSN: 1265-4906
Elektronische ISSN: 1248-9204 - DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-024-03095-9
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