TRENDS IN THE SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF INGUINAL HERNIA, CHOLECYSTECTOMY, AND APPENDICITIS IN HUNGARY BETWEEN 2015 AND 2024
Author(s)
Csaba Könczei, MD, MSc1, Róbert Pónusz, MSc, PhD2, Kristóf Mangel, MSc3, Eniko Fulop, MSc1, Bettina Kovács, BSc, MSc1, Zsuzsanna Kívés, BSc, MSc, PhD2;
1University of Pécs, Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary, 2University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, Pécs, Hungary, 3National Directorate General for Hospitals, Legal department, Budapest, Hungary
1University of Pécs, Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary, 2University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, Pécs, Hungary, 3National Directorate General for Hospitals, Legal department, Budapest, Hungary
OBJECTIVES: Advances in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) have reduced treatment times for many surgical interventions and play a key role in modern healthcare systems. This study aimed to evaluate long-term trends in the surgical management of inguinal hernia, cholecystectomy, and appendicitis in Hungary between 2015 and 2024, with a focus on the uptake of minimally invasive techniques, the expansion of day-case surgery, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical activity.
METHODS: A retrospective, nationwide descriptive analysis was performed using aggregated inguinal hernia, cholecystectomy, and appendicitis data from Hungary for the period 2015-2024, provided by OECD Data Explorer for Health Statistics. Annual procedure volumes were analyzed by surgical technique (laparoscopic versus open) and type of care (day-case versus inpatient). Temporal trends were assessed across the study period.
RESULTS: Across all three surgical indications, procedure volumes increased gradually by approximately 15-20%. A consistent shift toward laparoscopic techniques and day-case care was observed. Overall, inpatient procedures accounted for 51.37% of cases, while one-day surgery represented 48.63%. In 2020, surgical activity declined sharply for all procedures due to restrictions on elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2021 onward, a gradual recovery occurred, with procedure volumes approaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 2022-2024. By the end of the study period, laparoscopic surgery accounted for 81.24% of inguinal hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, and appendectomies, and day-case surgery became the dominant care model, reaching 57.22%.
CONCLUSIONS: Surgical care for common abdominal conditions in Hungary has undergone substantial modernization over the past decade. Despite temporary disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term trends toward minimally invasive techniques and day-case surgery remained robust. These findings provide relevant real-world evidence for health policy decision-making and surgical capacity planning.
METHODS: A retrospective, nationwide descriptive analysis was performed using aggregated inguinal hernia, cholecystectomy, and appendicitis data from Hungary for the period 2015-2024, provided by OECD Data Explorer for Health Statistics. Annual procedure volumes were analyzed by surgical technique (laparoscopic versus open) and type of care (day-case versus inpatient). Temporal trends were assessed across the study period.
RESULTS: Across all three surgical indications, procedure volumes increased gradually by approximately 15-20%. A consistent shift toward laparoscopic techniques and day-case care was observed. Overall, inpatient procedures accounted for 51.37% of cases, while one-day surgery represented 48.63%. In 2020, surgical activity declined sharply for all procedures due to restrictions on elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2021 onward, a gradual recovery occurred, with procedure volumes approaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 2022-2024. By the end of the study period, laparoscopic surgery accounted for 81.24% of inguinal hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, and appendectomies, and day-case surgery became the dominant care model, reaching 57.22%.
CONCLUSIONS: Surgical care for common abdominal conditions in Hungary has undergone substantial modernization over the past decade. Despite temporary disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term trends toward minimally invasive techniques and day-case surgery remained robust. These findings provide relevant real-world evidence for health policy decision-making and surgical capacity planning.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH218
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
STA: Surgery