Emergent groin hernia repair at a County Hospital in Guatemala: patient-related issues vs. health care system limitations

The rate of emergent groin hernia repair in developing countries is poorly understood. A retrospective analysis of groin hernia repairs performed at a county hospital in Guatemala [Hospital Nacional de San Benito (HSNB)] was undertaken and compared to a literature review in developed countries. Patients with incarcerated hernias were interviewed to determine factors related to late presentation. Twenty-five percent of patients with groin hernias...