SP11.1 What happens to hernias if we don't operate? A Covid-19 waiting list study

Abstract

Abstract Aims Many patients with symptomatic abdominal hernias have suffered delays and cancellations due to the reduction of elective operating lists. This waiting list study looks to examine what has happened to patients who were on the waiting list on the day of the first lockdown in March 2020, and whether there were any adverse outcomes. Methods We used coding data, TrakCare IT information and op notes to identify the outcomes of those patients between March 2020 and December 2021. We looked at whether elective surgery had been done, waiting times, if the patient had presented as an emergency, and if they had been removed from the list. We included any symptomatic abdominal hernia ie inguinal, incisional, paraumbilical, ventral. Results There were 78 patients included. 33 had elective repair, min waiting time 6 months, max 18 months. There were 5 emergency presentations for operative repair (6.4%) including 1 death (3 inguinal, 2 incisional). A further 3 required expedited repair at 5, 8 and 9 months. 4 patients removed themselves due to improvement in symptoms and 27 patients remained on the list (min 19 months, max 27 months). Conclusions Waiting lists for benign surgery have been adversely affected by the pandemic and this difficulty is seen clearly in our small district general. Patients who have been waiting a long time are at risk of emergency presentations and ongoing symptoms. Those with the fewest symptoms are waiting over two years and are at risk of continued waits due to ongoing service pressures.