Hernia grows, prompting surgical repair

DEAR DR. ROACH >>

I’m an 83-year-old healthy woman.

In 2019, I became aware of a little bulge in my groin and suspected an inguinal hernia. It was confirmed by my family doctor. Given its small size and the fact that it gets reduced easily, we decided to wait and watch it.

Since then, the hernia has been increasing in size, from the size of a small walnut to the size of a duck’s egg.

It doesn’t hurt or bother me, and it still is reduced easily.

I decided to have the hernia repaired.

One big problem that I came across, and the reason I’m reaching out to you, is that I found scarce information in medical/surgical journals about outcomes in female patients.

I realize that most inguinal hernia patients are male; however, there are enough women with this condition that there should be more information than what I was able to find.

— E.H.

DEAR READER >> I was able to find a large study of almost 8,000 women who were treated for groin hernias. The overall complication rate is definitely higher for women, and the techniques that work well for men don’t always work well for women.

However, part of the reason for the high complication rate is that many of these surgeries are done on an emergency basis, and this leads to worse outcomes.

Since you are getting yours done electively before any problems have emerged, this gives you the chance of a much better outcome.

In the large study coming from Sweden, the complication rate in women for elective surgery was about 7%, which is actually lower than the complication rate in men.

As always, finding a surgeon and an institution with expertise in your particular surgery is important.

Based on the very strong data, you can be reassured that you have a high likelihood of success. Still, there isn’t a surgery that doesn’t have risks, so a patient always needs to weigh the risks and benefits.

Since an increase in the size of the hernia is concerning, I understand why you chose to get the surgery and agree with your choice to find the highest expertise available to you.