title: Emergency groin hernia repair: implications in elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Groin hernia is one of the most frequently encountered pathologies occurring in old age and it is often the cause of emergency procedures. In our study we evaluate the impact of emergency procedures in over 75 patients compared to younger patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study about patients who underwent emergency hernioplasty between September 2007 and January 2013. Bilateral hernias and recurrences were excluded. We divided patients into two groups by age (under and over 75 years old) and then analyzed the early postoperative surgical complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 48 patients were enrolled, 18 were included in under 75 group and 30 in over 75. In the older group we found a higher rate of comorbidity and also a significant higher rate of postoperative complications. Two patients of over 75 group died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggests that a quick diagnosis and elective surgical procedures are desirable in order to avoid the complications that occur in emergency operations.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Compagna
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fappiano
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Accurso
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danzi
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aprea
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amato
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies