[The groin hernia: in- or outpatient surgery?].

Because of the standardization of different surgical procedures, the surgical treatment of inguinal hernias can be primarily performed on an outpatient basis. The surgical traditions, the hitherto existing financial plan as well as the pretensions of our society, however, have promoted in hospital treatment of hernias. Only since 1993, in accord with the "German Gesundheitsstrukturgesetz", has a new general framework come into existence that has enabled hospitals to opt for ambulant treatment, as well. Because of the discrepancy between stationary and ambulatory funding, the ambulant approach nevertheless has not become widely accepted. This might change after the introduction of the catalogue of feasible ambulant treatments and non-stationary procedures, as well as by the recent nation-wide decisions regarding extra budgetary funding for ambulant treatments. To what extent the "German Vertragsarztrechtsänderungsgesetz" constitutes a stronger tie between private medical practice and hospital-bound outpatient treatment remains to be seen.