Elective Laparoscopic Repair Improves Life Expectancy in Paraesophageal Hernia

Researchers utilized an updated Markov model to compare life-years gained with elective laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair (ELHR) versus watchful waiting (WW) in patients aged 40-90 with symptoms, Cameron lesions, or comorbid conditions. ELHR was found to increase life expectancy over WW in most cases, particularly in symptomatic patients. Despite the impact of comorbidities, ELHR remained the preferred strategy for the majority of individuals, providing individualized management guidance for patients with paraesophageal hernia.