SP3.2.15 Patient demographics and outcomes following emergency presentation with a groin hernia; a 15-year retrospective cohort study from the North of England
Abstract Aims Over 70,000 groin hernia repairs are performed in the UK annually. While most are performed in day-case settings, emergency presentation remains common and has a high associated morbidity and mortality. This study aims to report on patient demographics and outcomes following emergency presentation with a groin hernia. Methods Data was collected for all patients >18 years admitted acutely with an inguinal or femoral hernia to NHS trusts between 2002-2016 in the North of England. This included patient demographics and operative interventions. Outcomes of interest were thirty-day inpatient mortality and length of stay (LoS). Results Overall, 6165 patients presented as an emergency with a groin hernia (76.2% inguinal) over the 15-year study period. There was a male preponderance (n = 4469, 72.5%) with a median age of 73 years (IQR: 58,82). No changes in the distribution of age or gender were noted over the study period. Comorbidity, as measured by Charlson score, increased over time (p < 0.001). Median LoS was 2 days (IQR: 1,5), increasing with age and comorbidity (both p < 0.001). Emergency surgery was performed for 3904 patients (63.3%). The thirty-day mortality rate of 3.1% rose to 3.7% in the subgroup of patients undergoing operative repair and 5.6% in those with associated bowel obstruction. Greater comorbidity and advanced age were again associated with increased mortality (both p < 0.001). Conclusions This study highlights changing patient demographics more comorbid patients presenting acutely with groin hernias. These patients must be counselled regarding their increased mortality risk as part of the shared decision-making process.