Factors affecting morbidity and mortality in patients who underwent emergency operation for incarcerated abdominal wall hernia

Abstract

Patients with incarcerated abdominal wall hernias (AWHs) are often encountered in emergency care units. Despite advances in anesthesia, antisepsis, antibiotic therapy, and fluid therapy, the morbidity and mortality rates for these patients remain high. Between 2006 and 2011, we retrospectively analyzed the cases of 131 patients who underwent emergency surgery for incarcerated abdominal wall hernias. Of these, there were 70 women (53.4%) and 61 men (46.6%) with an average age of 63.3 ± 17.4 years (range, 17-91 years). Morbidity was observed in 28 patients (21.4%), and the mortality rate was 2.3%. Intestinal resection, presence of concomitant disease, and general anesthesia were the independent variants that affected morbidity of patients with incarcerated abdominal wall hernias.