All surgeries are taxing on the body, so when it comes to performing an operation on elderly individuals, doctors need to weigh a number of factors to determine if a surgical operation is the best option. This is especially true for hernias, as the majority of hernias are non-life threatening, and surgery carries its own risks. Today, we take a look at what factors surgeons analyze when deciding if an elderly patient should undergo surgery to address a hernia, and how doctors control for any risks.
Hernia Surgery For Seniors
Hernia surgery actually has great results for both young and old populations, and while elderly populations are at greater risk for problems, the relative risk for complications is still very low. Here’s a look at some of the factors doctors consider before moving forward with a hernia operation on an elderly patient.
- Life-threatening – Most hernias are not life threatening, but some can restrict blood flow to vital organs. If a hernia is non-life threatening and the pain is minor or mild, the doctor may decide that conservative care and monitoring are a better bet than subjecting an elderly patient to surgery.
- Anesthesia Side Effects – If you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed, you know that anesthesia can have an impact on your memory. While those effects tend to fade, in older patients, those memory issues can linger for days, weeks or even longer if they are put out for a medical procedure. These problems can be amplified even further if the patient has dementia or Alzheimer’s, and oftentimes doctors won’t perform hernia operations on these individuals unless it is absolutely necessary. Talk to your hernia surgeon about any cognitive issues you may be having before scheduling surgery.
- Overall Health – One recent study examined the rate of complications among patients undergoing an operation to address a hiatal hernia. For that procedure, there was no difference in the likelihood of developing a postoperative complication based on age alone, as individuals over the age of 70 experienced complications at the same rate as those under 70. So while age may not always matter, other health issues certainly affect your likelihood of a complication. Previous studies have shown that obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure all increase mortality rate and complication rate, so if you have other health conditions you are dealing with, a surgeon may decide a hernia operation is too risky to try.
- Medications – Along a similar vein, if you are taking blood thinners or other medications that may have side effects if you stopped taking them before surgery, then an operation may be off the table. Some medications can be stopped without many adverse effects, but if they are essential to your health, then it may not be worth it to go off of them to address a minor hernia issue.
At the end of the day, it’s about finding a balance between risk vs. reward. The riskier the surgery, the more necessary it needs to be for a surgeon to feel comfortable moving forward with an operation, and vice versa. So if you are over the age of 60 and considering hernia surgery, or you just want to get to the bottom of your stomach, chest or groin pain, swing into Dr. Koeplin’s clinic today.
