Prospective evaluation of 6895 groin hernia repairs in women

Although 8 per cent of groin hernia repairs are performed in women, there is little published literature relating specifically to women. This study compared differences in outcome between women and men after groin hernia repair.

Data collected prospectively in the Swedish Hernia Register between 1992 and 2003 were analysed, including 6895 groin hernia repairs in women and 83 753 in men.

A higher proportion of emergency operations was carried out in women (16.9 per cent) than men (5.0 per cent), leading to bowel resection in 16.6 and 5.6 per cent respectively. During reoperation femoral hernias were found in 41.6 per cent of the women who were diagnosed with a direct or indirect inguinal hernia at the primary operation. The corresponding proportion for men was 4.6 per cent. The hernia repair was not classified as a standard operation (e.g. Shouldice, Lichtenstein, Plug/Mesh, TAPP/TEP) in 38.2 per cent of women and 11.2 per cent of men. Women had a significantly higher risk of reoperation for recurrence than men, and techniques associated with the lowest risk for reoperation in men had the highest risk in women.

A greater proportion of women than men require emergency groin hernia repair, with consequently higher rates of bowel resection, complications and death. Surgical techniques developed for use in men may put women at unnecessary risk.