Should we perform elective inguinal hernia repair in the elderly?

• Published in: Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery 2017-02, Vol.21 (1), p.51-57
• Main Authors: Wu, J. J., Baldwin, B. C., Goldwater, E., Counihan, T. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Databases, Factual; Elective Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Elective Surgical Procedures - mortality; Elective Surgical Procedures - statistics & numerical data; Female; Hernia, Inguinal - surgery; Herniorrhaphy - adverse effects; Herniorrhaphy - mortality; Herniorrhaphy - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Article; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1265-4906; 1248-9204
• DOI: 10.1007/s10029-016-1517-3

Purpose Many surgeons are reluctant to offer elective inguinal and femoral hernia repair (IHR) to the elderly due to concerns of increased risk. The authors sought to evaluate the outcomes of elderly patients undergoing IHR compared to the general population. Methods We performed a retrospective review of the 2011 NSQIP database evaluating 19,683 patients undergoing IHR. Patients were divided by age into three categories: 80. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess impact of comorbid conditions and type of surgery on outcomes. Patients were analyzed for mortality and complications based on their age and the types of surgery (elective, urgent, emergent, laparoscopic versus open) and comorbid conditions. Results There were 17,375 male patients (88 %). 92.7 % were elective. 70 % were performed using an open technique. Age distribution was 63.4 % 80. Mortality was similar across age groups in elective repair. Mortality was increased in emergency repair in all age groups ( p  80 (OR = 57, p