Annals of Middle Eastern Medicine
Impact of delaying pediatric inguinal hernia repair during COVID-19 pandemic: a multicenter prospective study
By Abdullah Alshehri, Fatimah Almabyouq, Renad Abdulaziz Almutawa and 5 others.
Abstract
Background
Delayed management of pediatric inguinal hernias can lead to serious complications. We sought to determine the effect of delayed elective surgery on uncomplicated inguinal hernias in children and parents’ emotional perspectives and anxiety levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
This multicenter prospective cohort study included all pediatric patients ≤ 14 years of age with inguinal hernia who were initially scheduled for surgery but were postponed during the national lockdown between March and September 2020. The incidence of all hernia-related complications while awaiting surgery was analyzed. We also surveyed the patients’ parents regarding their perspectives, anxiety, and the impact of delayed surgery on their children’s well-being.
