QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR

Inguinal hernias are the most commonly presented abdominal hernias with approximately 20 million people operated annually throughout the world. Severe chronic pain after hernia repair effects social life, daily activity and overall quality of life. The Short Form-36 is (SF-36) a validated indicator of overall health status. Studies have shown that the reliability of the SF-36 is exceeding 0.80. This study aims to determine the severity of pain and quality of life after open inguinal hernia repair at a tertiary care hospital using SF-36. METHODS This cross-sectional study was carried out at Indus Hospital Karachi from 1st April 2018 to 10th September 2018.88 Patients were enrolled in this study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A written and informed consent was taken from all of them. After surgery they were sent home on painkillers. They were called at 4 weeks and were required to fill a pre designed questionnaire Short form -36. RESULTS Results showed that out of the 88 patients enrolled in this study 35 (39.8%) experienced mild pain, 37(42%) experience moderate pain and only 16 (18.2%) experienced severe pain. Quality of life was satisfactory in 72(81%) and unsatisfactory in 13(14.7%).

Hence it is concluded that post operatively patients experienced better physical functioning and emotional role functioning whereas their perceptions about their general health and energy were satisfactory. Hernia surgery should be offered to all the patients with a clinically detectable hernia.