Learning curve in open groin hernia surgery: nationwide register-based study

BACKGROUND: Current recommendations regarding the number of open groin hernia repairs that surgical trainees are required to perform during their residency are arbitrarily defined and vary between different curricula. This register-based study sought to investigate the learning curve of surgeons performing open anterior mesh repair for groin hernia by assessing hernia recurrence rates, surgical complications and operating times in relation to the number of procedures performed. METHOD: Nationwide data on open anterior mesh repair for groin hernia performed by surgical residents were collected from the Swedish Hernia Register between 2005 and 2020. The data were analysed in a cohort undergoing procedures carried out by surgeons performing their first registered repair as resident general surgeons. Repairs by surgeons with fewer than 30 repairs were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 38 845 repairs carried out by 663 surgeons were included. Operation time decreased with increasing number of performed procedures, mean (s.d.) operation time was 79 (26) min for the first 15 procedures and 60 (23) min after 241 procedures (P <0.001). A turning point where complication rates began to decrease was seen after 60 procedures. Complication rates were 3.6 per cent (396 of 10 978) for procedures 31–60 and 2.7 per cent (157 of 5 798) for procedures 61–120 (P = 0.002). There was no significant relationship between the number of procedures performed and the rate of operation on for recurrence (P = 0.894). CONCLUSION: Sixty performed procedures during surgical residency is a reasonable target for achieving competency to perform open anterior mesh repair for groin hernia safely without supervision.