Adverse Outcomes in Elective Hernia Repairs in Crohn’s Disease: A Case Series

Background: Approximately 3.1 million Americans are diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).IBD is associated with higher rates of surgical procedures, increased comorbidities, and hospitalizations [1].While hernia repairs are typically deemed a lower-risk surgery, we advise caution with elective surgical repair in IBD patients.Methods: This case series describes two patients with relatively quiescent Crohn's disease who underwent elective ventral hernia repair at University Medical Center New Orleans between April 2024 and May 2025.Both patients were identified through review of institutional records.Results: We present two cases of patients with known Crohn's disease on adalimumab therapy who underwent elective abdominal hernia repair.Both cases were complicated by poor wound healing, intra-abdominal abscess formation, extended courses of antibiotics, prolonged hospitalization, and the need for additional surgeries and procedures, ultimately leading to a more complex disease course.Conclusion: Given the limited data regarding long-term outcomes following elective surgeries in patients with IBD, this series aims to highlight these risks and encourage clinicians to exercise caution when considering elective procedures for this patient population.