Safety and Feasibility of Laparoscopic Transabdominal Preperitoneal Hernia Repair for Octo- and Nonagenarians

The feasibility of laparoscopic hernia repair in octo- and nonagenarians has not been investigated in detail. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic hernia repair in octo- and nonagenarians. This study included 607 patients who underwent transabdominal preperitoneal laparoscopic hernia repair at our hospital between April 2014 and October 2020. Patients were divided into an over 80 group (112 patients aged 80 years and older) and a control group (495 patients younger than 80 years). The clinical outcomes were compared between the groups. In addition, among patients aged 80 years and older, those who underwent elective laparoscopic hernia repair (laparoscopic group: 111 patients) were compared with patients who underwent elective open hernia repair during the same study period (open group: 79 patients). The number of patients who underwent bilateral hernia repair was significantly larger in the over 80 group (26.7% versus 11.7%, P < .001). The incidence of postoperative complications was not significantly different between the over 80 group and the control group. Compared with open group, the number of patients who underwent bilateral hernia repair was significantly larger in the laparoscopic group (27.0% versus 2.5%, P < .001). The incidence of postoperative complications (2.7% versus 10.1%) and the incidence of readmission (0.9% versus 6.3%) were significantly greater in the open group. Laparoscopic hernia repair in octo- and nonagenarian patients yields safe and noninferior outcomes. Laparoscopic hernia repair in octo- and nonagenarian patients is considered more suitable for detecting and repairing contralateral hernias simultaneously.