Comparison of results of inguinal hernia repair operations carried out on geriatric patients under emergency or elective conditions

Abstract

Purpose: In this study morbidity and mortality rates of inguinal and femoral hernia repair operations carried out under emergency and elective conditions on patients of 65 years and older ages are evaluated.

Materials and Methods: Two hundred and seven patients of 65 years and older, who were operated on under emergency and elective conditions for inguinal and femoral hernia within the 10 years period between 1999 and 2009, were included in this study. Of these patients, 51 were operated on under emergency conditions while the other 156 were operated on under elective conditions. To compare the ratio of groups, the chi-square test and for comparing the quantitative variables the student's t test was used.

Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of co-morbid diseases (p=0.950). While no morbidity was seen among patients operated on under elective conditions, 5 of the patients who were operated on under emergency conditions were lost due to various complications (p<0.001). While the patients who were operated on under emergency conditions spent an average time of 8 days in hospital, this time was 3 da ys for those operated on under elective conditions (p<0.001).

Conclusion: As morbidity and mortality rates and hospital staying time were found to be high with patients of advanced age who were diagnosed with inguinal or femoral hernias and operated on in emergency conditions, surgical interventions are advised to be carried out under selective conditions.