The Safety of Incisional Hernia Surgical Repair in Patients ≥70 Years

Abstract

Introduction Incisional hernias (IHs) are common complications of abdominal surgery. Frailty and advancing age could be related to poor outcomes after surgical interventions, especially after operating on challenging surgical fields with adhesions and dense scars. This study assesses the safety of IH surgical repair in patients aged 70 years and above. Methods A retrospective analysis of all patients who had IH surgical repair on an emergency and elective basis at a district hospital in the UK. The cohort was categorised into group I (<70 years) and group II (≥70 years). A comparative analysis was conducted between these groups based on demographic data, comorbidities, hernia characteristics, operative data, and patient outcomes. Results This study encompassed 262 patients, with a mean age of 61.8 SD± 14.2 years, of whom 152 (58%) were females. Of these, group I comprised 173, and group II included 89 patients. Notably, group I exhibited a higher prevalence of morbid obesity, with 46 (28.8%) cases, as opposed to 12 (15.2%) in group II; p=0.021. Conversely, group II demonstrated a greater incidence of individuals with at least one comorbidity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than group I, p=0.004 and 0.003, respectively. Fifty-five (32%) and 49 (29.3%) of group I had multiple defects and recurrent hernias compared to 24 (28.2%) and 16 (18.8%) in group II, p=0.541 and 0.071, respectively. The mean hospital stays were 5.5 ± 8.3 and 8.33 ± 18.7 days, and the mean durations of surgery were 131.6 ± 105.2 and 106.73 ± 74.22 minutes in groups I and II, p=0.057 and 0.181, respectively. No significant differences were observed in overall or wound-related complications, p=0.587 and 0.125. The rates of mortality within 30 days were three (1.7%) in group I and three (3.4%) in group II, with 90-day mortality rates at four (2.3%) and three (3.4%), respectively, indicating no significant difference. Similarly, no significant differences emerged between the groups regarding hernia recurrence rates (with a mean follow-up of 56 months) or 90-day readmission rates. Conclusions Surgical repair of IH is safe and effective in patients ≥70 years with comparable outcomes to younger patients.