Hernia surgery in the South American woodlands: A surgical adventure in Argentina

Background: Because of the socioeconomic conditions existing today in Argentina, I decided to operate on hernias and incisional hernias among the poorest population in their living environment. Methods: To achieve this, I organized a group of 19 people, including resident surgeons and technicians, transferring everything in order to set up three surgical rooms in an old house, in the worst surgical environment, in the middle of the woodlands in the northeast tropical part of our country. It was like war-trench surgery but in peacetime. We successfully operated on 83 cases with different techniques in 4 days, in a trip that lasted a week. Results: After 18 months, there is not ev en one complication or recurrence. Conclusions: Because of this experience, I must remark that the patients' immunity-cicatricial condition is essential to success. © Springer-Verlag 2004.