Improvement of quality of life in elderly after inguinal hernioplasty

Background Inguinal hernia represents one of the most common diseases in the elderly. It causes aching and unsightly swelling affecting quality of life (QOL), with a concomitant risk of strangulation. Despite this, an assumption of the risks of surgery may lead clinicians, particularly non-surgeons, to advise elderly patients against the repair of hernia, especially if asymptomatic [1]. The aim of this study was to evaluate QOL by a short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire [2] in elderly patients undergoing inguinal hernioplasty.