Cost-effectiveness of Groin Hernia Surgery in the Western Region of Ghana

Samuel D. Shillcutt
2010 Archives of Surgery  
Objective: To calculate the cost-effectiveness of tensionfree inguinal hernia repair with mosquito net mesh in the Western Region of Ghana. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Four district hospitals in the Western Region of Ghana. Patients: A total of 113 referred or presenting patients from rural areas with inguinal hernias of various sizes. Intervention: Lichtenstein method of tension-free repair using mosquito net mesh by European and African surgeons. Main Outcome Measure:
more » ... ed lifeyears (DALYs) averted with counterfactual definitions based on precedent and expert opinion. Results: All operations were performed as day cases, with 81 of the patients (71.7%) under local anesthesia and few complications. An average of 9.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.0-10.7) DALYs were averted per person, with a total of 1052 averted in the study.
doi:10.1001/archsurg.2010.208 pmid:20956763 fatcat:3aa2fbjnwze23oytvfx2bjok3m