Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair in the Elderly Patient

J. E. Oor, J. H. Koetje, D. J. Roks, V. B. Nieuwenhuijs, E. J. Hazebroek

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    Background

    Hiatal hernias (HH) are more common among elderly patients, with an increase in incidence with advancing age. Elderly patients frequently suffer from comorbidity, causing them to have an increased risk of perioperative mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study is to assess the safety of this procedure within elderly patients.

    Methods

    We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients with HH operated between July 2009 and May 2015 at two hospitals in the Netherlands specialized in antireflux surgery and HH repair. Mortality rates and short- and long-term morbidity rates were compared between patients aged under 70 years and aged over 70 years.

    Results

    A total of 204 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic HH repair at our institutions, of whom 121 were aged under 70 years and 83 were aged over 70 years. There was no mortality intraoperatively, nor during 30-days follow-up. Intraoperative complications occurred in 7 patients aged 70 years and over, with no significant differences compared to the patients aged under 70. The 30-day morbidity rate did not significantly differ between the age groups, with an overall postoperative complication rate of 9.3 %. Only length of stay (LOS) was significantly longer in the elderly patients. Performing univariate analysis, only the occurrence of intraoperative complications was associated with 30-day morbidity.

    Conclusion

    In the present study, age was not associated with increased 30-day morbidity or mortality following HH repair. Therefore, in carefully selected patients, age should not be used as an argument to withhold laparoscopic HH repair.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1404-1411
    JournalWorld Journal of Surgery
    Volume40
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2016

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