[The surgical treatment of strangulated inguinal-crural hernias in geriatric patients]

The authors describe their own experience relative to 79 patients, aged 70 years or older, who underwent, during three years, emergency surgical intervention for inguinal or crural strangulated hernia. They report a postoperative mortality rate of 8.8% and a postoperative morbidity rate of 40%. They stress the need for timely diagnosis and a meticulous surgical treatment. Therefore, they underline the great importance of the anesthesiologic approach and perioperative intensive care.