A Cross-Sectional Analysis for Generalized Assessment of Hernia Recovery and Complications in Tertiary Healthcare Settings

Background: A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or tissue through a weakened area in the muscle or connective tissue and is usually associated with a bulge and discomfort. The objective of this study was to conduct a generalized assessment of Hernia patients-based recovery and complications in tertiary healthcare settings. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional observational study (April 2023 to Oct 2023) was conducted at Shaikh Zayed Hospital and Akhtar Saeed Hospital in Lahore. A consecutive sampling technique was used and the sample size was calculated (n=80) with a 95% confidence interval using OpenEpi software version 3.0.1. The patients (n=80) who underwent any kind of hernias surgery procedures were included in this study. Data about demographics, surgery procedures, postoperative complications (wound infection, seroma, hematoma, recurrence), hospital stay complications (prolonged stay due to infection or delayed recovery), recovery time, and serum albumin levels were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 25 and %age with recovery rate was calculated. Results: Out of 80 patients, A total of 27 patients (33.8%) had postoperative complications. The overall wound infection rate of 11.3% (n= 9) was seen. As for serum albumin levels, patients with serum albumin <3.5 g/dL were more prone to complications (45.8%, n=37 vs. 18.2%, n=14, p=0.009) together with a longer stay in hospital (6.7 ± 1.8 vs. 4.5 ± 1.1 days, p=0.034). Conclusion: In conclusion, postoperative complications were seen particularly in patients with low serum albumin levels and prolonged hospital stays.