JAMA: 2006-01-18, Vol. 295, No. 3, Author in the Room Audio Interview

Interview with Olga Jonasson, MD, author of Watchful Waiting vs Repair of Inguinal Hernia in Minimally Symptomatic Men, published in the January 18 issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association. Summary Points: 1. Men, and men only, who have few if any symptoms from their inguinal hemia, can safely delay having it fixed. 2. When symptoms develop, especially if the symptoms worsen suddenly, they should visit a surgeon and request a repair. 3. If the hernia suddenly becomes incarcerated, painful, and signs of a bowel obstruction develop (vomiting, abdominal cramps), an operation should be done immediately. In 2006, even this emergency operation is safe and mortality rates are low.