Outcome of day-case inguinal hernia in elderly patients: how safe is it?
BACKGROUND
Inguinal hernia repair is well established as a day-case procedure but little is reported about the outcome for elderly patients.


METHODS
A retrospective study was undertaken to compare a study group of patients aged 70 and above with a controlled group of patients aged less than 65 who had day-case inguinal hernia repair (Lichtenstein repair) between January 1996 and December 2004.


RESULTS
A total of 588 patients (282 in the elderly group and 306 in the control group) were studied. Although there were a larger number of higher-risk (ASA III) patients in the elderly group (P < 0.001), unplanned admission, postoperative symptoms, and satisfaction were comparable with those for the younger group.


CONCLUSIONS
Day-case inguinal hernia repair can be safely offered to patients aged 70 and above.
Sinha
Surajit
S
Department of General Surgery, Torbay Hospital, Newton Road, Torquay, TQ2 7AA, UK. sinhasurajit@hotmail.com
Srinivas
G
G
Montgomery
J
J
DeFriend
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D016896:Treatment Outcome