Short Communication

Femoral herniorrhaphy and its affect on fibrinogen levels

S. O. Elusoji¹, C. Osime¹*, P. Irhibogbe¹, E. Egwaikhide¹, O. Oludiran¹, C. Elusoji², O. Esezobor³, S. Digban³, O. F. Igbinidu⁴ and S. M. Momoh³

¹Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

²School of Nursing, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (U. B. T. H.), Benin City, Nigeria.

³Pathology Department, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (U. B. T. H.), Benin City, Nigeria.

⁴Graduate Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City- Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: boiz3men1@yahoo.com. Tel.: +2348074399966; +2347025870106 or +2347068827033.

Accepted 5 February, 2009

The study consists of 10 patients with features suggestive of femoral hernia who had herniorrhaphy in our Hospital. The information collected include the age, sex, and occupation. Many years ago, femoral hernia was not common in Nigerian. This must have been due to the fact that the cases were under reported and most patients, who had femoral hernia, took native drugs and hoped for the best until it be comes complicated. The fibrinogen concentration of the control was 2.21 (0.12) g/l. The fibrinogen concentration before operation was 2.12 (0.9) g/l compare with the control level of 2.21 (0.12) g/l. Fibrinogen increased significantly during operation (p < 0.001) and decreased (p < 0.001) after operation. Therefore the increase in fibrinogen level after femoral herniorrhaphy may predispose to the development of post-operative thrombo embolic complications. The measures for the prevention of thrombo embolic complications such as early mobilization should therefore be encouraged in such patients.

Key words: Femoral hernia, herniorrhaphy, our hospital, Nigeria, fibrinogen, thromboembolic complications.