Are general paediatric surgery outcomes comparable between district general hospital and regional referral centres?

Introduction: This study recorded the complication rates for general paediatric surgery undertaken in our district general hospital (DGH) and compared them with the limited amount of data published in this field. There has been a gradual diminution in the numbers of general paediatric surgeons throughout the UK. The Royal College of Surgeons of England has produced guidelines to safeguard the provision of paediatric surgery in DGHs. There are minimal data on the acceptable outcomes and complication rates for elective general paediatric operations.

Methods: The following operations undertaken by the paediatric urologist in our unit between November 2006 and May 2010 were scrutinised: orchidopexy, laparoscopy for undescended testes, herniotomy and circumcision. The results were compared to those in the literature and current guidelines. Complications were recorded via audit records, clinic letters or records of attendance at the accident and emergency department.

Results: A total of 306 paediatric operations (125 orchidopexies, 28 laparoscopies, 41 herniotomies and 51 circumcisions) were undertaken over the 42-month study period. Only 4.5% of cases experienced post-operative complications. The majority of these were testicular atrophy and infection. There were no intra-operative complications.

Conclusions: In our DGH the complication rates for general paediatric operations compare favourably with those set out by the literature and guidelines, which support the training and delivery of general paediatric surgery within DGHs.