Frequency of Abdominal Wall Hernias: A Nigerian Hospital Experience

Introduction: Hernia is a very common condition in all populations, and its surgical operation constitutes a major workload for physicians worldwide. Although great numbers of these procedures are done in primary and secondary care settings as well as in private hospitals and as part of surgical missions to rural areas, a significant proportion is still present in tertiary centers. Aim: To review the pattern of external hernias operated upon in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, over a 10-year period. Methods: The theatre records were searched for all patients who underwent surgical operations for hernia in the period of 2005–2014. The data on patient demographics, indication for surgery, and procedure performed were retrieved. Results: A total of 902 patients underwent operations for different types of external hernias. The overall male/female ratio was 2.6:1. Operations for inguinal hernia were the most common, accounting for 72.9% (658) of the total. Ventral hernias constituted 25.1% (n=227) of the cases whereas 1.5% (n = 12) of patients had femoral hernia. One hundred and twelve patients (12.4%) had emergency surgery, of which 78 were for inguinal hernia. Mesh repair was started in 2009 and was utilized in 72 (8%) cases. Laparoscopic method of repair was used in only two patients. Conclusion: The pattern of operation for hernia in our center mirrors the experience in other local centers. Modern methods of repair are gaining ground.