Elective Laparoscopic Hernia Repair Increases Life Expectancy in Asymptomatic Patients

Elective laparoscopic hernia repair (ELHR) is shown to lead to a greater life expectancy compared to watchful waiting (WW) in asymptomatic patients with a paraesophageal hernia (PEH). An updated Markov analysis revealed that ELHR resulted in maximum life-years gained for 40-year-old women and gradually diminished with increasing age. Alternative values in sensitivity analysis had modest effects on the difference in life-years gained, confirming ELHR as the preferred strategy. These findings indicate that ELHR should be considered for all asymptomatic patients with a PEH to maximize life expectancy.