Emergency department utilization and predictors of mortality for inpatient inguinal hernia repairs

In our study, Black, Hispanic, and self-pay patients were more likely to present through the ED. After adjusting for obstruction or gangrene, simply presenting through the ED was independently associated with a 67% higher postoperative mortality rate compared with that of an elective operation. Our findings suggest both a difference in ED utilization and subsequent difference in mortality by patient race and ethnicity and insurance for this common surgical condition.