PT Surg (Portuguese Collaborative Research Group). Predictors of low quality of life after open inguinal hernia repair using the EuraHS-QoL score: prospective multicentric cohort study across 33 hospitals

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP): an underestimated problem after incisional hernia treatment

BACKGROUND

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a potential long-term problem following open incisional hernia repair which may affect the quality of life of patients despite successful anatomical repair of the hernia. The aim of this manuscript was to identify the incidence and outcome of patients following open incisional hernia repair in respect of risk factors to develop CPSP.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective analysis of patients who underwent open incisional hernia repair between 2015 and 2021 was performed. Pre-existing conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus and malignancy), hernia complexity, postoperative complications, and postoperative pain medication were analyzed using the local database. Quality of life and CPSP were assessed using the EuraHS Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 182 cases were retrospectively included in a detailed analysis based on the complete EuraHS (QoL) questionnaire. During the average follow-up period of 46 months, this long-term follow-up revealed a 54.4% incidence of CPSP and including a rate of 14.8% for severe CPSP (sCPSP) after open incisional hernia surgery. The complexity of the hernia and the demographic variables were not different between the group with and without CPSP. Patients with CPSP reported significantly reduced QoL. The analgesics score which includes the need of pain medication in the initial days after surgery was significantly higher in patients with CPSP than in those without (no CPSP: 2.86 vs. CPSP: 3.35; p = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

The presence of CPSP after open incisional hernia repair represents a frequent and underestimated long-term problem which has been not been recognized to this extent before. CPSP impairs QoL in these patients. Patients at risk to develop CPSP can be identified in the perioperative setting by the need of high doses of pain medication using the analgesics score. Possibly timely adjustment of pain medication, even in the domestic setting, could alleviate the chronicity or severity of CPSP.

F. Simões J, Dias CC, Sampaio Alves M, Azevedo J, Cunha M, Alagoa João A, Nobre JG, Picciochi M, Sampaio Soares A, Vieira B, Peyroteo M, On behalf of PT Surg. Surgical Technique and Chronic Postoperative Inguinal Pain in Patients Undergoing Open Inguinal Hernioplasty in Portugal: A Prospective Multicentric Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Evidence about the advantage of Lichtenstein's repair, the guidelines' recommended technique, is scarce regarding postoperative chronic inguinal pain (CPIP). The primary aim of this study was to compare CPIP in patients undergoing Lichtenstein versus other techniques.

METHODS

Prospective multicentric cohort study including consecutive adults undergoing elective inguinal hernia repair in Portuguese hospitals (October - December 2019). Laparoscopic and mesh-free hernia repairs were excluded. The primary outcome was postoperative pain at three months, defined as a score of ≥ 3/10 in the European Hernia Society Quality of Life score pain domain. The secondary outcome was 30-day postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and sixty-nine patients from 33 hospitals were included. Most were men (90.4%) and had unilateral hernias (88.6%). Overall, 53.6% (466/869) underwent Lichtenstein's repair, and 46.4% (403/869) were treated with other techniques, of which 83.9% (338/403) were plug and patch. The overall rate of CPIP was 16.6% and 12.2% of patients had surgical complications. The unadjusted risk was similar for CPIP (OR 0.76, p = 0.166, CI 0.51 - 1.12) and postoperative complications (OR 1.06, p = 0.801, CI 0.69 - 1.60) between Lichtenstein and other techniques. After adjustment, the risk was also similar for CPIP (OR 0.83, p = 0.455, CI 0.51 - 1.34) and postoperative complications (OR 1.14, p = 0.584, CI 0.71 - 1.84).

CONCLUSION

The Lichtenstein technique was not associated with lower CPIP and showed comparable surgical complications. Further investigation as- sessing long term outcomes is necessary to fully assess the benefits of the Lichtenstein technique regarding CPIP.

A Comparative Study on Outcomes and Quality of Life Changes Following Ventral Transabdominal Preperitoneal (Ventral-TAPP) and Laparoscopic Intraperitoneal Onlay Mesh (IPOM)-Plus Repair for Ventral Hernia

Background Ventral transabdominal preperitoneal (ventral-TAPP) repair and intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) plus repair are two options among the available techniques of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR). We conducted a comparative study to evaluate the clinical and quality of life (QoL)-related outcomes between ventral-TAPP and IPOM-plus repair. It was hypothesized that both procedures offered similar outcomes and QoL. Materials and methods The study included 32 consecutive patients undergoing LVHR, divided equally between ventral-TAPP and IPOM-plus groups. In the ventral-TAPP procedure, a peritoneal flap was created around the defect, followed by defect approximation and polypropylene mesh placement in the pre-peritoneal pocket. For the IPOM-plus procedure, the defect was closed and a composite (dual-side) mesh was placed around the defect. The minimum overlap beyond the original defect margin in both groups was 5 cm. Data regarding pre-operative parameters and postoperative outcomes, including pain and QoL at one week, one month, and three months, were recorded. A p-value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results While the mean duration of surgery was longer, the cost of treatment was lower in group 1 (ventral-TAPP) with a p-value of <0.05 for both parameters. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in group 1 (ventral-TAPP), while the return to normal activity was similar in both groups. The visual analog scale (VAS) score for overall pain perception and the European registry for abdominal wall hernias (EuraHS; hernia-related QoL) score for 'Pain at Site' and 'Restriction of Activity' domains were significantly higher in group 2 (IPOM-plus) at one week. Conclusion Although the ventral-TAPP procedure requires more time and expertise to perform, the EuraHS QoL assessment at one week was better in group 1 (ventral-TAPP). Ventral-TAPP group scored better in terms of length of hospital stay and cost-effectiveness as well.