Groin hernias in elderly patients. Management and prognosis.

In a 10 year period, 1,496 patients aged 65 years or older were treated for groin hernias. A total of 1,755 hernias were diagnosed, of which 243 were incarcerated and 1,279 were surgically repaired. Emergency operations were performed in 235 patients with a mortality rate of 7.5 percent, compared with 1.3 percent for the elective cases. The postoperative morbidity rate was 56 percent in emergency cases and 20 percent in the elective cases. Patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases had the worst prognosis. Local anesthesia had the least sequelae. We conclude that groin hernias in elderly patients should be repaired under elective conditions in the properly prepared patient, preferably while under local anesthesia.