Tension-free by mesh-plug technique for inguinal hernia repair in elderly patients.

Background: elderly patients are steadily becoming a growing part of the population. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of open inguinal hernia repair in patients aged over 65 years.

Methods: from January 1999 to December 2008, a total of 719 patients underwent open tension-free inguinal hernia repair with mesh-plug; 301 among them were ≥ 65 years old.

Results: elderly patients had a mean age of 72.4 years (women 3.3%), while the mean age of younger patients was 48.7 years (women 5.7%). According to the ASA score, patients aged ≥ 65 years were at significantly higher risk than the younger patients. Spinal anesthesia was used most frequently in both groups. No significant differences were found in postoperative pain, mortality and recurrence. Morbidity and hospital stay were significantly higher in patients aged ≥ 65 years.

Conclusions: open hernia repair in the elderly is safe and well tolerated, but it is associated with higher morbidity and longer hospitalization.