Presentation Outcome and Surgical Management of Obstructed Inguinal Hernia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54112/bcsrj.v6i11.2244Keywords:
Inguinal hernia; Hernia, inguinal; Intestinal obstruction; Emergency surgery; Postoperative complications; MortalityAbstract
Obstructed inguinal hernia is a frequent surgical emergency associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where delayed presentation remains common. Objective: To evaluate the clinical presentation, surgical management, and early postoperative outcomes of obstructed inguinal hernia in adult patients. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Surgery of Peoples University of Medical & Health Sciences from 19 July 2025 to 19 October 2025 and included 240 adults aged 18–80 years presenting with obstructed inguinal hernia. Demographic, clinical, and operative data were collected using a structured proforma. Continuous variables were summarized as mean ± standard deviation, while categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages. Associations of age group, gender, hernia pattern, and type of surgery with postoperative outcomes, including fever, hematoma, bleeding, wound dehiscence, and in-hospital mortality, were assessed using the chi-square test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 51.8 ± 13.0 years, and 201 (83.8%) were male. Most patients were obese (58.3%) and belonged to a lower socioeconomic group (50.4%). Primary hernias constituted 82.9% of cases, all patients presented as emergencies with irreducible swelling, and 57.5% had right-sided hernias. Open repair was performed in 206 (85.8%) patients, whereas laparoscopic repair was undertaken in 34 (14.2%). Prophylactic antibiotics were administered in 95.8% of cases. Early postoperative fever occurred in 19.2% of patients, hematoma in 6.7%, bleeding in 1.7%, wound dehiscence in 3.8%, and in-hospital mortality in 9.2%. Increasing age was significantly associated with postoperative fever (p=0.002), whereas no statistically significant associations were observed between age, gender, hernia pattern, or type of surgery and other postoperative complications or mortality. Conclusion: Obstructed inguinal hernia predominantly affects middle-aged, obese men and is associated with considerable early postoperative morbidity and in-hospital mortality. Timely elective repair of inguinal hernias and prompt surgical intervention in emergency presentations may help reduce adverse outcomes.
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Copyright (c) 2025 . Fatul, Maimoona Khushk, . Shewani, Masood Ahmed, Sallam Khan, Alina Masood
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