Abdominal Wall Hernias as seen in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

A prospective survey of Abdominal Wall Hernia patients was done in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, from November 2000 to February 2002. The objective is to determine the pattern, management and outcome in a 101 patients with 110 hernias. Males accounted for 88.1% of the patients with mean age of 51.1 ± 11.7 years and 48.5% were farmers. Benign prostatic hyperplasia coexisted with hernia in 19.8% of patients. Inguinal/inguino-scrotal was the commonest (88.1%), while femoral hernia was rare (2.7%).


Hernia occurred on the right side in 49% and bilateral in 10.9%. Consultants operated on 66(65.3%) patients, while residents under supervision operated on 35(34.7%) patients 65.2% of the patients were above 50 years. Day case surgery in our series was 75.3%; Elective surgery was in 76(75.2%) patients; while emergency cases was in 25(24.8%) patients. Local, spinal and general anaesthesia were used in 54(53.5%), 27(26.7%), 20(19.8%) patients, respectively. 19.8% had benign prostatic hyperplasia with hernia, while 5% had simultaneous prostatectomy and herniorrhaphy, 11.5% had gangrenous intestine that needed resection and reanastamosis.


Commonest post operative complication was wound infection 14.9%, others were scrotal oedema, wound sinus, hypertrophic scars occurred in 3(3%), 2(2%), 3(3%) patients, respectively; with mortality in 1 patient (1%) in an elderly man who had strangulated intestinal obstruction.


Key Words: Abdominal wall hernias, Coexisting prostatic hypertrophy.


Sahel Med. J. Vol.6(2) 2003: 44-48