Evaluation of pain and disability in plug repair with the aid of a personal digital assistant

• Published in: Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 25 - 28
• Main Authors: GOLDSTEIN, H. S, RABAZA, J. R, GONZALEZ, A. M, VERDEJA, J. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer 01.03.2003; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdomen; Biological and medical sciences; Computers, Handheld; Digestive System Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Disability Evaluation; Female; Hernia, Inguinal - physiopathology; Hernia, Inguinal - surgery; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Ambulatory - methods; Pain Measurement - methods; Pain, Postoperative - physiopathology; Prosthesis Implantation - adverse effects; Recovery of Function - physiology; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the digestive system; Surgical Instruments; Surgical Mesh; Time Factors; Human; Prosthesis; Technical assistance; Inguinal; Surgical closure; Waiting time; Back to work; Hernia; Disability; Biomedical data processing; Pain; Treatment; Abdominal disease; Surgery; Characteristics collection; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 1265-4906; 1248-9204
• DOI: 10.1007/s10029-002-0090-0

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the method of real-time data collection using a hand-held personal digital assistant (PDA) in the operating suite, hospital, and office. The technique for the placement of a round Atrium ProLite self-forming, layered polypropylene plug in 155 hernia repairs is described. The study measured postoperative pain by the number of pills used (6.6) and categorizes patient return to work according to sedentary, manual, and standing with an average return to work time of 15.6 days for unilateral repair and 20.4 days for bilateral repair. Return to normal daily activity was within 22.3 days for unilateral- and 28.5 days for bilateral repair.