Sameeah Hanif, Soweba Hanif, Muhammad Nawaz.
Anterior abdominal wall hernias in regards to prevalence and risk factors.
Pak J Surg Nov ;38(1):26-9.

Objective: General Surgical units are burdened with abdominal wall hernias. Main risk factors include obesity, chronic cough, smoking, constipation, previous surgery. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence pattern of different anterior abdominal wall hernias along with risk factors involved. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Department of Surgery, District Head Quarter (DHQ), Abbottabad, from January 2017 to December 2020. Aft er ethical approval study on prevalence of anterior abdominal wall carried out with causative factors involved. 132 patients were included in study. SPSS 17 used for analysis. Groin hernias were not included in study. Results: Study comprised of 132 patients. Mean age of presentation was 39.54+-12.16 years. 95(72%) patients were female while 37(28%) were male. Para-umbilical hernia was the most common hernia found in our study, occurring in 81(61.4%) patients. This was followed by umbilical and epigastric hernia both of which comprised of 19 (14.4%) population individually. Incisional hernia was found in 12 (9.1%) of hernias. Spigelian hernia was found in 1(0.76%). Conclusion: Hernias are a major concern in general surgical unit. As risk involved in causation are nearly avoidable or treatable. By addressing etiological factor burden can be reduced.

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