Surgical treatment of large incisional hernias with intraperitoneal composite mesh: a cohort study

Anterior versus posterior component separation technique for advanced abdominal wall reconstruction: a proposed algorithm

OBJECTIVE

The precise indications for employing the anterior component separation technique (ACST) and the Transversus Abdominis Release (TAR) in abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) remain uncertain, despite the undeniable value of both techniques. The aim of this study was to analyze the anterior fascial closure rate, postoperative wound morbidity, and hernia recurrence rate for both procedures according to the algorithm used for complex AWR.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was carried out. Patients undergoing AWR for midline incisional hernias using either open or endoscopic ACST (E-ACST) or TAR between March 2013 and August 2022 were included. Patients with lateral hernia components were excluded. The surgical technique was depending on the pre- and intraoperative findings regarding hernia width and on the estimated traction to achieve anterior fascial closure (see algorithm). Initially, intermediate hernia defects ranging from approximately 10-14 cm in width were repaired using E-ACST. However, as the study advanced, TAR became the preferred method for addressing these types of defects. Open ACST was consistently employed for defects wider than 14-15 cm throughout the entire study duration. Outcomes of interest were anterior fascial closure, surgical site occurrences, and hernia recurrence rate. Follow-up was performed at 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years.

RESULTS

A total of 119 patients underwent AWR with CST: 63 patients (52.9%) were included in the ACST group and 56 patients (47.1%) in the TAR group. No significant differences were observed in patient and hernia characteristics. The use of botulinum toxin A (BTA) injection and preoperative progressive pneumoperitoneum (PPP) was more frequently used in the ACST group (BTA 19.0%, PPP 15.9% versus BTA 5.4%, PPP 1.8% for TAR patients). Anterior fascial closure was achieved in 95.2% of the ACST group and 98.2% of the TAR group (p = 0.369). The TAR group demonstrated a significantly lower SSO rate at one month (44.3% versus 14.3%, p < 0.001) and required fewer procedural interventions (SSO-PI) (31.1% versus 8.9%, p = 0.003). The recurrence rate at one year was low and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (ACST 1.8% vs TAR 4.5%, p = 0.422).

CONCLUSION

Following a proposed algorithm, the anterior fascial closure rate was high and similar for both techniques. As postoperative wound morbidity is significantly increased after ACST, our findings support recommending TAR for defects up to 14 cm in width, while favoring open ACST for larger defects.

Open intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair with anterior component separation as a bail-out procedure in the management of complex hernias

PURPOSE

Surgical repair of complex abdominal wall hernias remains technically demanding and is widely recognized as a risk factor for unfavorable outcomes with high recurrence and morbidity rates. The objective is to assess short- and long-term complications after open intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) repair combined with bilateral anterior component separation (ACS) for large and difficult incisional hernias, alongside evaluating hernia recurrence rates.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis utilized data sourced from Hospital electronic health records and a prospective database at an academic tertiary referral center. Data collection was carried out from patients operated between January 2006 and December 2017. Eligible patients had complex incisional hernias measuring at least 10 cm in their transverse diameter and had an open IPOM repair with bilateral ACS.

RESULTS

In our study group of 45 patients, the 30-day surgical site occurrence (SSO) rate was high (37.8%), primarily consisting of superficial postoperative complications as seroma (17.8%) and wound dehiscence (6.7%). Among six patients (13.3%), wound complications escalated to chronic infected mesh-related problems, leading to complete mesh removal in four cases (8.9%) and partial mesh removal in two cases (4.4%). Regarding long-term complications, five patients (11.1%) developed enterocutaneous fistula. The recurrence rate was modest [5 out of 41 (12.2%)] over a median follow-up period of 99 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a high SSO rate, application of the open IPOM technique with ACS could serve as a valuable rescue option for managing large and complex hernias, with acceptable hernia recurrence rates at long-term follow-up.

Management of a Voluminous Incisional Hernia – Case Report and Brief Review

Introduction: Massive ventral hernia repairs may lead to abdominal compartment syndrome, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and is caused by an acute rise in intra-abdominal pressure, frequently leading to multi-organ failure and possibly death. This report presents a case with a voluminous incisional hernia associated with intestine obstruction and the issues surrounding emergency surgical treatment. Case report: An overweight 67-year-old patient with a medical history of diabetes and multiple cardiovascular pathologies presented to the emergency department complaining of abdominal distension, pain, nausea, vomiting, and lack of intestinal transit for 48 hours. A clinical diagnosis of bowel obstruction was established, caused by a large ventral hernia. During surgery, a tension free abdominal wall reconstruction was performed with a peritoneal flap from the hernia sac and retromuscular Prolene synthetic mesh. A Redon-type drainage of the posterior rectus compartment and subcutis was applied for 48 hours. After the operation, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for monitoring. During the follow-up, continuous monitoring of arterial blood pressure, oxygen saturation, renal function, daily diuresis, lactic acid values, and intraabdominal pressure was performed. On the 9th postoperative day, the patient was released in good general health, stable from a cardiorespiratory point of view, with a clean, healing surgical wound. Conclusion: The repair of large ventral hernias is technically challenging. The management of giant incisional hernias is complex, requiring thoughtful preoperative evaluation with CT imaging and volumetry calculation, which can help establish the surgical strategy.

A new criterion to predict recurrence after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: mesh/defect area ratio

<b>Introduction:</b>Minimizing recurrence in hernia surgery is one of the major aims. Defining surgeon-dependent risk factors for recurrence is therefore of great importance in laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR). This study aims to analyze the predictive value of the mesh area/defect area ratio (M/D ratio) in terms of recurrence as a new criterion in LVHR.</br> </br> <b>Methods:</b> A total of 124 patients were enrolled in the study. Age, gender, hernia type, body mass index, defect size, size of the mesh, mesh overlapping, area of the defect, area of the mesh, M/D ratio, postoperative complications, follow-up time, recurrences and timing of recurrence were also recorded. The potential variables that may affect recurrence were examined by univariate and multivariate analysis.</br> </br> <b>Results:</b> There were 12 (9.7%) recurrences in our series. A statistically significant difference was found if either the mesh/defect ratio was ≤6 or >6 (p = 0.012). Multivariate analysis confirmed that M/D ratio was the only independent parameter for recurrence. </br></br><b>Conclusion:</b> Understanding M/D ratio concept and using it in surgical clinical practice may help reduce recurrence rates after LVHR.</br>

Complex giant incisional hernia repair with intraperitoneal mesh: A case report

Introduction and importance

An incisional hernia is one of the most frequent complications after abdominal surgery, with an estimated incidence of 2-20% after midline laparotomy. They are often caused by poor wound healing. We present the case of a complex giant incisional hernia that was repaired by implanting an intraperitoneal mesh.

Case presentation

A 63-year-old man with obesity, hypertension, and multiple previous laparotomies, who developed a complex giant incisional hernia (xipho-pubic > 10 cm wide). An open technique repair was decided with the introduction of a large mesh (Parietex ™ Composite) in an intraperitoneal position, covering a 25 × 16 cm hernial ring. After two years, the patient continues to be followed due to a low-output distal enterocutaneous fistula.

Clinical discussion

Currently, there is no technique or approach that has become a gold standard for ventral incisional hernia repair. The introduction of an intraperitoneal mesh with two surfaces by laparotomy is recommended when there are contraindications for laparoscopic surgery, for example in obese patients, and patients with multiple previous laparotomies. However, it has been reported to be a complex technique with an enterocutaneous fistula rate of 0.3-4%.

Conclusion

The introduction of a composite mesh represents an alternative surgical technique for the repair of giant incisional hernias.

Effectiveness of Prophylactic Intraperitoneal Mesh Implantation for Prevention of Incisional Hernia in Patients Undergoing Open Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Incisional hernia is a frequent complication after open abdominal surgery. Prophylactic mesh implantation in the onlay or sublay position requires dissection of the abdominal wall, potentially leading to wound-associated complications.

Objective

To compare the incidence of incisional hernia among patients after prophylactic intraperitoneal mesh implantation with that among patients after standard abdominal closure.

Design, Setting, and Participants

An open-label randomized clinical trial was performed in 169 patients undergoing elective open abdominal surgery from January 1, 2011, to February 29, 2014. Follow-up examinations were performed 1 year and 3 years after surgery. The study was conducted at Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland, a referral center that offers the whole spectrum of abdominal surgical interventions. Patients with 2 or more of the following risk factors were included: overweight or obesity, diagnosis of neoplastic disease, male sex, or history of previous laparotomy. Patients were randomly assigned to prophylactic intraperitoneal mesh implantation or standard abdominal closure. Data were analyzed in August 2017.

Interventions

Intraperitoneal implantation of a polypropylene-polyvinylidene fluoride mesh with circumferential fixation.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was the incidence of incisional hernia 3 years after surgery. Secondary end points included mesh-related complications.

Results

After the exclusion of 19 patients, 150 patients (81 in the control group and 69 in the mesh group; mean [SD] age, 64.2 [11.1] years; 102 [68.0%] male) were studied. The cumulative incidence of incisional hernia was significantly lower in the mesh group compared with the control group (5 of 69 [7.2%] vs 15 of 81 [18.5%], log-rank test P = .03). Abdominal pain was observed in significantly more patients in the mesh group compared with the control group at 6 weeks (34 of 52 [65%] vs 26 of 59 [44%], P = .04) but not at 12 and 36 months postoperatively. No difference in surgical site infections was observed, but time to complete wound healing of surgical site infection was significantly longer in patients with mesh implantation (median [interquartile range], 8 [6-24] weeks compared with 5 [1-9] weeks; P = .03). Trunk extension was significantly decreased after mesh implantation compared with the control group (mean [SD], 1.73 [0.97] cm vs 2.40 [1.23] cm, P = .009).

Conclusions and Relevance

In patients at elevated risk for incisional hernia, prophylactic intraperitoneal mesh implantation reduces the incidence of hernia formation but with increased early postoperative pain and prolonged wound healing of surgical site infection.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01203553.