The Role of Patient Screening and Risk Stratification in the Preoperative Preparation of Patients With Anterior Abdominal Wall Hernias

Introduction. Lifestyle, poor physical condition, bad habits, malnutrition and adverse psychological factors reduce the body's resistance to overcome the physiological stress of surgery. Abdominal wall hernia repair is one of the most common surgical operations. A high body mass index, smoking, diabetes and immunosuppression are risk factors for the development of postoperative hernia, and in the case of its surgical correction, these factors significantly worsen the perioperative prognosis. Assessing the risk of serious complications and death during the perioperative period is crucial for the patient. Aim. To assess the role and necessity of patient screening and risk stratification in the complex of preoperative preparation of patients with anterior abdominal wall hernias. Materials and methods. In the research took part 91 patients who underwent surgical treatment of abdominal wall hernias. They were divided into 3 groups according to the type of anesthesia (general, neuraxial and fascial blocks of the abdominal wall). The analysis was carried out according to comorbidity, the presence of lifestyle risks, the risk of cardiovascular complications (LI index), the risk of anesthesia according to the ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologist's) scale and the risk of thromboembolic complications according to the Caprini scale, factors that affect the frequency postoperative nausea, vomiting and their prevention. Results and discussions. It was determined that the most common concomitant pathology in patients of 1, 2 and 3 study groups was arterial hypertension. Ischemic heart disease was most often observed in patients of group 3. Patients with a history of acute coronary syndrome dominated in the 3rd observation group. Patients were also noted to have diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a history of impaired cerebral circulation. It was determined that many patients in the studied groups did not have additional risk factors, but all of them smoked and were overweight. Many patients had anesthetic risk according to ASA II or III. Patients received combined prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Conclusions. All groups were dominated by patients with an average and high risk of developing perioperative complications. Careful examination, identification of potential risk factors related to comorbidities and lifestyle are important to reduce the risk of complications in patients with abdominal wall hernias in the complex of preoperative preparation. Patients with a high risk of developing perioperative complications are recommended to choose neuraxial or regional anesthesia to prevent the development of postoperative complications.