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Groin hernia subtypes are associated in patients with bilateral hernias: a 14-year nationwide epidemiologic study

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Abstract

Background

To investigate the relation between groin hernia subtypes in patients operated for bilateral hernias.

Methods

With data from the Danish Hernia Database, we identified all patients operated for primary groin hernias from 1998 to 2012. Within this cohort all patients that were bilaterally operated were analyzed. Risk factors for bilateral groin hernia operation as well as the relationship between groin hernia subtypes bilaterally, were analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis and Kappa statistics.

Results

A total of 108, 775 persons with primary groin hernia repair (89.9 % males) were registered, and of those were 12,041 persons operated bilaterally (94.9 % males). Females and males operated for a unilaterally direct inguinal hernia (DIH) had increased Hazard Ratios (HR) of 3.85 (CI 95 % 2.14–6.19) and 4.46 (CI 95 % 2.57–7.88) of being contralaterally operated for a DIH. Females and males operated for a unilaterally indirect inguinal hernia (IIH) had HRs of 6.93 (CI 95 % 3.66–13.11) and 1.89 (CI95 % 1.24–2.88) for being contralaterally operated for an IIH. The same tendency was seen for femoral hernias.

Conclusions

All hernia subtypes were bilaterally associated in both genders and the hernia subtypes could be localized manifestations of generalized conditions or inheritable traits instead of localized defects.

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Disclosures

Jakob Burcharth, Kristoffer Andresen, Hans-Christian Pommergaard declares no financial interests or potential conflict of interests. Jacob Rosenberg reports having received lecture fees from Merck and Bard, and research funding from Baxter Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, and Bard.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Perioperative Optimization, Department of Surgery, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Jakob Burcharth, Kristoffer Andresen, Hans-Christian Pommergaard & Jacob Rosenberg

  2. The Danish Hernia Database, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Jacob Rosenberg

Authors
  1. Jakob Burcharth
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  2. Kristoffer Andresen
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  3. Hans-Christian Pommergaard
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  4. Jacob Rosenberg
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Correspondence to Jakob Burcharth.

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Burcharth, J., Andresen, K., Pommergaard, HC. et al. Groin hernia subtypes are associated in patients with bilateral hernias: a 14-year nationwide epidemiologic study. Surg Endosc 29, 2019–2026 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-014-3905-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-014-3905-z

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