Incarcerated abdominal wall hernia surgery: Relationship between risk factors and morbidity and mortality rates (a single center emergency surgery experience)

Abstract

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to investigate morbidityand mortality-related risk factors in patients undergoing surgery due to incarcerated abdominal wall hernia. METHODS The patients were grouped according to the type of hernia (inguinal, umbilical, incisional, femoral), and these groups were evaluated in terms of risk factors affecting morbidity and mortality such as age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, type of anesthesia, concomitant diseases, and the presences of intestinal strangulation and necrosis. RESULTS Inguinal hernia was frequent in males, whereas femoral hernia was frequent in females (p<0.001). The rate of intestinal resection due to strangulation and necrosis was found significantly higher among femoral hernias as compared to the other types of hernia (p<0.005 and p<0.001, respectively). Advanced age (≥65 years), concomitant disease, strangulation, necrosis, high ASA score (III-IV), time from the onset of symptoms, and time to hospital admission were found to have significant influences on morbidity and mortality. General anesthesia was found to be a risk factor for morbidity as well (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Incarcerated abdominal wall hernias are surgical problems with high morbidity and mortality rates. Therefore, surgery should be planned under elective conditions when hernia is detected.