title: The improvement of quality of life a indication for elective surgery in elderly patients with minimally symptomatic inguinal hernia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Effectiveness of surgery on quality of life in elderly affected by minimally symptomatic inguinal hernia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male patients aging over 75 years affected by minimally symptomatic inguinal hernia were included. In the first group were allocated 15 patients who refused hernioplasty; in the second were included 25 patients who underwent early elective hernioplasty using an high density polypropylene mesh under local anesthesia. The SF-36 questionnaire was administered to all patients at the time of enrollment and 6 months after.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 8 domains of SF-36 and his related two comprhensive index, Mental Component Summary and Physical Component Summary scores, improved 6 months after surgery in patients of the second group. No significant differences were detected in the first group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no scientific evidence concerning early repair or watchful waiting strategy for elderly with minimally symptomatic inguinal hernia. in the last years, the evaluation of quality of life have a central role in the decision making of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvement of quality of life in elderly with minimally symptomatic inguinal hernia underwent to early hernia repair hernioplasty could represents a further indication for elective hernia repair.
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cudia
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Vita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment