Systematic review and meta-analysis of the pre-operative application of botulinum toxin for ventral hernia repair

Short- and midterm outcomes of prehabilitation in abdominal wall surgery: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Data concerning prehabilitation in abdominal wall surgery (AWS) remain scarce and controversial. This study aimed to compare the postoperative short- and midterm outcomes between patients with prehabilitation and those without prehabilitation before AWS.

METHODS

All consecutive patients who underwent surgery for primary/incisional, midline/lateral, and parastomal hernias between October 2021 and October 2024 were retrospectively included. Patients who underwent prehabilitation (including nutritional support, psychological support, and physical preparation) were compared with those who did not undergo prehabilitation. The primary outcome was 30-day morbidity.

RESULTS

A total of 315 patients were included: 114 with prehabilitation and 201 without prehabilitation. Preoperative and intraoperative characteristics were similar in both groups, except for the higher botulinum toxin injection (BTI) rate (71/114 in the prehabilitation group vs 18/201 in the no-prehabilitation group; P <.001) and larger median hernia size (10 cm in the prehabilitation group vs 6 cm in the no-prehabilitation group; P <.001). There were no differences between both groups in complication rates (35/114 in the prehabilitation group vs 61/201 in the no-prehabilitation group; P =.948), major complications (15/114 in the prehabilitation group vs 28/201 in the no-prehabilitation group; P =.848), surgical site occurrences (23/114 in the prehabilitation group vs 40/201 in the no-prehabilitation group; P =.953), and median length of stay (3 days in the prehabilitation group vs 2 days in the no-prehabilitation group; P =.707). In contrast, the recurrence rate was lower in patients in the prehabilitation group than in those in the no-prehabilitation group (2/114 vs 14/201, respectively; P =.043; median follow-up: 16 months [95% CI, 15-17]). Among patients who received BTI, patients in the prehabilitation group had a lower complication rate than those in the no-prehabilitation group (20/71 vs 10/18, respectively; P =.028). Prehabilitation was independently associated with a decreased morbidity rate among patients who received BTI (odds ratio, 0.3 [95% CI, 0.1-0.9]; P =.027).

CONCLUSION

Prehabilitation did not decrease postoperative morbidity in the overall cohort but was associated with a lower midterm recurrence rate. In the BTI subgroup, patients in the prehabilitation group had less complications, suggesting a potential benefit of coupling BTI with a prehabilitation pathway.

Follow-up of complex hernia repair with intraoperative fascial traction

BACKGROUND

Different techniques for complex abdominal wall repair are utilised including intraoperative fascial traction (IFT) as the latest development. Despite increasing case numbers for IFT across Europe, long-term data especially on recurrence rates are not available yet.

METHODS

Follow-up data from five different German hernia centers between 12/2019 and 9/2023 were assessed. All patients received Rives-Stoppa repair (RSR) and IFT intraoperatively with an additional transverse abdominis muscle release (TAR) in some cases. 30-day postoperative outcome data were retrospectively collected Standardized follow-up was performed after a minimum of 3 months including clinical examination and standardized ultrasound.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 60.7 ± 14.3 years; the mean BMI was 31.3 ± 7.3 kg/m² with a mean follow-up of 19.7 ± 10.7 months. The mean defect width was 15.8 ± 5.2 cm. In 94% of the patients complete fascial closure was achieved; in 28% an additional TAR procedure was necessary During follow-up, 2 recurrences were found. The surgical site occurrence (SSO) rate was 33% including mainly seromas (54.5%) and surgical site infections (SSI) of 9% Comparing the groups of IFT + TAR and IFT + RSR a significantly higher incidence of SSO was found in the TAR group (50% vs. 26.4%, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study, which is the first long-term follow-up, shows very promising results of the innovative IFT technique in terms of closure rate, wound morbidity, and recurrence rate.

Preoperative botulinum toxin for complex abdominal wall reconstruction: a meta-analysis of propensity-score matched studies with trial sequential analysis

PURPOSE

Large ventral hernias can be associated with significant loss of domain, and preoperative Botulinum Toxin A (BTA) has been suggested as an adjunct therapy to minimize the effects of ventral hernia repair and facilitate fascial closure. However, there is often bias in studies involving BTA and its use is associated with significant cost and its efficacy remains unclear.

METHODS

We systematically searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrial.gov for propensity-score matched (PSM) studies comparing preoperative BTA and AWR with standard AWR for complex hernias. We pooled odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess outcomes, applying a random-effects model. We used R studio version 4.3.1 for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

We included six studies with PSM comprising 851 patients undergoing AWR. The mean age was 60.5 years, mean BMI was 31.8 kg/m2, and 46.5% of patients were male. There were no significant differences between groups regarding fascial closure rate (OR 1.54; 95% CI 0.78 to 3.05; p = 0.21), hernia recurrence (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.33 to 2.01; p = 0.65), component separation (OR 1.50; 95% CI 0.54 to 4.14 p = 0.4), surgical site infections and occurrences (OR 1.31; 95% CI 0.34 to 5.00; p = 0.70), length of hospital stay, or operation time. The Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) indicated that none of the outcomes reached the necessary sample size for a definitive conclusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative BTA did not offer significant benefits in AWR of complex incisional hernia repairs. However, TSA showed that the required sample size was not achieved.

Does sarcopenia have a negative impact on the efficacy of botulinum toxin A in the prehabilitation of patients undergoing incisional hernia repair? A multicentric retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections are increasingly used to prepare patients undergoing surgery for incisional hernias larger than 10 cm. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of sarcopenia on the efficacy of BTA injection in lengthening the lateral abdominal muscles.

METHODS

Between August 2018 and January 2024, patients with midline incisional hernias ≥ 10 cm undergoing preoperative BTA injections were included in a multicentric database. Sarcopenia was evaluated calculating the muscle area measured on a transverse CT scan at the level of the L3 lumbar vertebra. Muscle characteristics and the volumes of the incisional hernia and abdominal cavity were compared before and 4 to 6 weeks after BTA injection. The effect of BTA on muscle elongation was evaluated according to sarcopenia.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine patients were included. Sarcopenia did not impair the efficacy of BTA in terms of length of the lateral abdominal wall muscles, with a 1.8 cm increase bilaterally in each group. Regarding the efficacy of BTA injection, 80% of patients experienced elongation of the lateral abdominal wall muscles. Failure of the injection therefore affected 20% of patients. These results were similar in both groups, regardless of sarcopenia. Analysis of the characteristics of 'responders' and 'nonresponders' revealed that 'nonresponders' had a greater length of the lateral abdominal wall muscles on the scan prior to BTA injection, likely due to less significant muscle retraction.

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenia did not impair the effectiveness of BTA in terms of elongation prior to incisional hernia repair.

Preoperative botolinum toxin A (BTA) and intraoperative fascial traction (IFT) in the management of complex abdominal wall hernias

INTRODUCTION

Preoperative botolinum toxin A (BTA) administration to the lateral abdominal wall has been widely used since its introduction for treating complex abdominal wall defects and loss of domain (LOD) hernias. Intraoperative fascial traction (IFT) is an established technique for complex abdominal wall hernias exceeding a width of 10 cm and has also shown auspicious results. We present our single center data including 143 consecutive cases combining both techniques from 2019 to 2023. Aim of the study was to develop an algorithm for a tailored approach for very large and complex ventral abdominal wall hernias.

METHODS

Consecutive patients treated with preoperative BTA and IFT from August 2019 to December 2023 were identified in our prospectively maintained database and reviewed retrospectively. Metrics included intraoperative findings and short-term (30 days) postoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

143 patients were included in our retrospective analysis. The mean age was 58.9 years and 99% of all patients had an ASA Score of II or III with a mean body mass index of 32.4 kg/m2. The mean intraoperative reduction of fascia-to-fascia after BTA and IFT was 9.81 cm. 14 patients either had a lateral defect or a combination of a midline and lateral hernia. An additional uni- or bilateral transverse abdominis release (TAR) was necessary in 43 cases (30.1%). The overall surgical site occurrence rate (SSO) was 30.1% of which 13.8% were surgical site infections (SSI). Re-operation and SSO rates were significantly higher if an additional TAR was performed (both p = 0.001; α = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

IFT in combination with BTA is a transformative and clinically proven tool in the surgeons' toolbox. It might be an easier, and less invasive alternative to other available techniques in many cases, but it should not be looked at as an ultimate stand-alone method to treat all complex W3 hernias.

[The use of botulinum toxin in hernia surgery: results of a survey in certified hernia centers]

BACKGROUND

Botulinum toxin application into the abdominal wall prior to major hernia repair can reduce the complexity of surgery and has been increasingly used in recent years, even if it is an off-label use.

OBJECTIVE

To what extent is botulinum toxin used in hernia surgery in German-speaking countries and what is the current evidence in the literature?

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In a voluntary online survey of German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV)-certified competence centers and reference centers for hernia surgery, aspects of botulinum toxin application were surveyed and the results analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 57 centers took part in the survey, of which 27 (47%) use botulinum toxin. The main reasons for not using it were lack of experience and reimbursement. Of the centers 85% have treated less than 50 patients with botulinum toxin. The main indications were midline hernias (M2-4 according to the EHS classification) with a hernia gap > 10 cm (W3 according to EHS classification) and loss of domain situations. The application was predominantly ultrasound-guided by designated hernia surgeons with 100-200 Allergan or 500 Speywood units 4-6 weeks preoperatively and without complications related to the botulinum toxin application.

CONCLUSION

Botulinum toxin injections in hernia surgery appear to be safe and effective. Ultrasound-guided preoperative bilateral administration is supported by the available data. Specific course and information formats should be offered by the hernia surgery institutions.

Achieving fascial closure with preoperative botulinum toxin injections in abdominal wall reconstruction: outcomes from a high-volume center

Preoperative injection of Botulinum Toxin A (Botox) has been described as an adjunctive therapy to facilitate fascial closure of large hernia defects in abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of Botox injections on fascial closure and overall outcomes to further validate its role in AWR. A prospectively maintained database was retrospectively reviewed to identify all patients undergoing AWR at our institution between January 2014 and March 2022. Patients who did and did not receive preoperative Botox injections were analyzed and compared. A total of 426 patients were included (Botox 76, NBotox 350). The Botox group had significantly larger hernia defects (90 cm2 vs 9 cm2, p < 0.01) and a higher rate of component separations performed (60.5% vs 14.4%, p < 0.01). Despite this large difference in hernia defect size, primary fascial closure rates were similar between the groups (p = 0.49). Notably, the Botox group had higher rates of surgical-site infections (SSIs)/surgical-site occurrences (SSOs) (p < 0.01). Following propensity score matching to control for multiple patient factors including age, sex, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and hernia size, the Botox group still had a higher rate of component separations (50% vs 26.3%, p = 0.03) and higher incidence of SSIs/SSOs (39.5% vs 13.5%, p = 0.01). Multimodal therapy with Botox injections and component separations can help achieve fascial closure of large defects during AWR. However, adding these combined therapies may increase the occurrence of postoperative SSIs/SSOs.

State of the Art: Advances in Hernia Care

The field of hernia surgery has seen many recent advances and continues to evolve. Care of the hernia patient begins preoperatively by ensuring adequate preparation for surgery with surgeons now having the opportunity to accurately predict risk which can aid with informed consent. Imaging studies can now help surgeons diagnose and plan hernia surgery on an individual level based on hernia characteristics as well as abdominal wall musculature. In the operating room, new technology and surgical techniques have allowed surgeons to become increasingly sophisticated with goals of reducing tension on midline closures, utilizing minimally invasive and robotic techniques, and availability of new and varied mesh prosthetics. While modest improvements in outcomes have been witnessed by these advances, there is still opportunity for improvement which will be realized by continued research, use of registries, and education and training. Hernia prevention strategies focusing on minimally invasive surgery, laparotomy closure, and the use of prophylactic mesh will also help with the burden of incisional hernias. These advances in hernia surgery have led to the new field of Abdominal Core Health which helps represent this evolving and growing new subspecialty of general surgery.

Use of botulinum toxin type A in the prehabilitation of abdominal wall musculature for hernia repair: a consensus proposal

The prehabilitation of the abdominal wall through the infiltration of botulinum toxin type A, which induces temporary chemical denervation ("chemical component separation") in the lateral abdominal musculature, is a common practice in units specialized in abdominal wall surgery. However, its use for this indication is currently off-label. The main objective of this article is to describe a consensus proposal regarding indications, contraindications, dosages employed, potential side effects, administration method, and measurement of possible outcomes. Additionally, a proposal for an informed consent document endorsed by the Abdominal Wall Section of the Spanish Association of Surgeons is attached.

Limitations of Transversus Abdominis Release (TAR)-Additional Bridging of the Posterior Layer And/Or Anterior Fascia Is the Preferred Solution in Our Clinical Routine If Primary Closure is Not Possible

Background: By separating the abdominal wall, transversus abdominis release (TAR) permits reconstruction of the abdominal wall and the placement of large mesh for many types of hernias. However, in borderline cases, the mobility of the layers is inadequate, and additional bridging techniques may be required for tension-free closure. We now present our own data in this regard. Patients and Methods: In 2023, we performed transversus abdominis release on 50 patients as part of hernia repair. The procedures were carried out using open (n = 25), robotic (n = 24), and laparoscopic (n = 1) techniques. The hernia sac was always integrated into the anterior suture and, in the case of medial hernias, was used for linea alba reconstruction. Results: For medial hernias, open TAR was performed in 22 cases. Additional posterior bridging was performed in 7 of these cases. The ratio of mesh size in the TAR plane to the defect area (median in cm) was 1200cm2/177 cm2 = 6.8 in patients without bridging, and 1750cm2/452 cm2 = 3.8 in those with bridging. The duration of surgery (median in min) was 139 and 222 min and the hospital stay was 6 and 10 days, respectively. Robotic TAR was performed predominantly for lateral and parastomal hernias. These procedures took a median of 143 and 242 min, and the hospital stay was 2 and 3 days, respectively. For robotic repair, posterior bridging was performed in 3 cases. Discussion: Using the TAR technique, even complex hernias can be safely repaired. Additional posterior bridging provides a reliable separation of the posterior plane from the intestines. Therefore, the hernia sac is always available for anterior reconstruction of the linea alba. The technique can be implemented as an open or minimally invasive procedure.

Peritoneal flap technique for abdominal wall expansion in the management of complex ventral hernias: a multicentre study from India

INTRODUCTION

Large abdominal wall hernias often require techniques for wall expansion to improve surgical outcomes. The peritoneal flap hernioplasty (PF) is one such technique that utilizes the hernia sac to reconstruct the abdominal wall, however, with limited published data. It is a modification of the Rives-Stoppa mesh repair where a part of the bisected hernia sac is utilized to reconstruct the anterior fascia and the other part for the posterior fascia. We present a collated retrospective analysis of the outcomes from three centers performing PF with or without transverse abdominis release (TAR) in patients with complex ventral hernias.

METHODS

The PF was performed in patients with incisional hernias, both midline and lateral. The primary outcome measured was hernia recurrence. The secondary outcomes were to evaluate pain, surgical site infection, seroma, hematoma, wound dehiscence, pseudo-recurrence, Clavien-Dindo score for complications, and the patient's reported quality of life. The quality of life was assessed by oral questionnaires in the follow-up period.

RESULTS

We analyzed 63 patients (38 female, 25 male) with a mean width of hernia defect of 11 cm SD 4. Based on the European Hernia Society (EHS) classification 42 patients were W3 and 21 were W2 hernias. Fifty patients had a midline hernia, while the rest of the patients included transverse, subcostal, and rooftop incision hernias. The classical peritoneal flap procedure was done in 29 (46%) patients, while the peritoneal flap with TAR was done in 34 (54%) patients. Four patients had symptomatic seroma (6%), seven superficial surgical site infection (SSI) (11%), one deep SSI (1.5%), one skin necrosis (1.5%), and one anterior peritoneal flap necrosis (1.5%). No patient required postoperative ventilatory support. The mean pain score on day one was 3/10. There was no recurrence in the mean follow-up of 17 months (range 5 to 49 months). Overall, 58 of 63 (92%) patients reported being satisfied with their surgery.

CONCLUSION

In our multicentre study, we found the PF technique with or without TAR for midline and non-midline ventral hernia leads to satisfactory outcomes in terms of low recurrence, low rate of complications, and a good quality of life in the medium to long term. It appears to be a useful technique in the surgeon's armamentarium to repair W2 and W3 hernias needing expansion of abdominal domain.

Intra-abdominal hypertension and compartment syndrome after complex hernia repair

PURPOSE

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a well-known concept after trauma surgery or after major abdominal surgery in critically ill patients. However, ACS as a complication after complex hernia repair is considered rare and supporting literature is scarce. As complexity in abdominal wall repair increases, with the introduction of new tools and advanced techniques, ACS incidence might rise and should be carefully considered when dealing with complex abdominal wall hernias. In this narrative review, a summary of the current literature will highlight several key features in the diagnosis and management of ACS in complex abdominal wall repair and discuss several treatment options during the different steps of complex AWR.

METHODS

We performed a literature search across PubMed using the search terms: "Abdominal Compartment syndrome," "Intra-abdominal pressure," "Complex abdominal hernia," and "Ventral hernia." Articles corresponding to these search terms were individually reviewed by primary author and selected on relevance.

CONCLUSION

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and ACS require imperative attention and should be carefully considered when dealing with complex abdominal wall hernias, even without significant loss of domain. Development of a true abdominal compartment syndrome is relatively rare, but is a devastating complication and should be prevented at all cost. Current evidence on surgical treatment of ACS after hernia repair is scarce, but conservative management might be an option in the early phase and low grades of IAH. However, life-saving treatment by relaparotomy and open abdomen management should be initiated when ACS starts setting in.

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.