Patient Comorbidities Complicating a Hernia Repair: The Preoperative Workup and Postoperative Planning

Abstract

Abdominal wall hernia is one of the most common surgical pathologies worldwide, and general surgeons must be able to address hernias on a daily basis. Despite the ubiquity, or perhaps because of it, approaches to hernia management vary widely. One facet of this management is the preoperative optimization of patients prior to surgery. New evidence has repeatedly highlighted the critical importance of preoperative optimization in obtaining the finest outcomes. This chapter reviews the available literature as it pertains to the management of patients prior to hernia repair and makes recommendations based on this evidence. We will address the specifics of hernia evaluation as well as describe how to safely address various comorbid conditions. Within each topic, we will review and recommend practices that have been shown in the literature to produce the best possible outcomes.