Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Safety in Patients Older than 80 Years with Inguinal Hernia

Background: Inguinal hernia repair is a common surgical intervention in the elderly. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients over 80 years of age undergoing inguinal hernia repairs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 150 patients older than 65 years of age who had undergone an inguinal hernia repair between January 2006 and December 2010. Dividing our subjects by age into two groups, 65 to 79 years and 80 years and older, we compared their clinical features and surgical outcomes. Results: There were 122 patients (81.3%) in the 65 to 79 years group and 28 (18.7%) in the over 80 years group. Average body mass index was 22.8 kg/m(2) in the 65 to 79 group and 21.8 kg/m(2) in the over 80 group. Comorbidities were present in 63.9% of the cases in the 65 to 79 group and 67.9% in the over 80 group. American Association of Anaesthetists score was significantly higher in the over 80 group (1.6 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.3, p=0.046). Comparisons of operative time for each operative method were statistically not different. Postoperative hospital stay and analgesic use also showed no significant differences between the groups. Among the postoperative complications, wound hematoma was most prevalent in both groups but was not statistically different. There was no surgery-related mortality in either group. Conclusion: Our results indicate that inguinal hernia repair can be done safely in those older than 80 years, unless there is high surgical risk per se.