Inguinal hernia repairs performed for recurrence in Spain: population-based study of 16 years and 1,302,788 patients.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess data on inguinal hernia repairs (IHR) performed for recurrence over a 16 year period (2004-2019) in Spain. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 1,302,788 patients who underwent IHR from January 2004 to December 2019 was conducted. Data were extracted from the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) of the Health Ministry database. The primary objective was to analyse the proportion of IHR performed by recurrence. As secondary objectives, we evaluated factors related to recurrent hernia (analysed by univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis) and trends in the recurrent case rate over the 16 year period. RESULTS: We identified 95,025 patients (7.3% of all IHR) who underwent surgery for recurrent inguinal hernia. Patients undergoing recurrent IHR were more likely to be male (OR 1.687, 95% CI 1.645-1.730), elderly (age > 74 years), and more complicated when they arrived in the operating room (gangrene OR 3.951, 95% CI 3.734-4.180; occlusion OR 1.905, 95% CI 1.853-1.960), and thus had more surgical site occurrences and related mortality. The proportion of IHR performed for recurrence has been dropping over the years (8.7% in 2004 vs. 6.5% in 2019, p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: The rate of recurrent IHR in Spain (2004-2019) is 7.3%. Recurrent IHR correlates to emergent and complicated surgery and thus to a worst outcome. The trend of this 16 year period is of decreasing operated recurrent inguinal hernia. This is good news even though the improvement is slight and certainly insufficient. Establishing and optimising the rate of hernia recurrence is important for patients and for the health-care system.

Inguinal hernia repair in Spain. A population-based study of 263,283 patients: factors associated with the choice of laparoscopic approach.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (IHR) rate in Spain and identify the factors associated with the choice of this surgical approach. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 263,283 patients who underwent IHR from January 2016 to December 2018 was conducted. Data were extracted from the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) of the Health Ministry database. The primary outcome was laparoscopic (LAP) rate utilization. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to identify factors associated with LAP-IHR. RESULTS: Only 5.7% (15,059) patients underwent LAP-IHR, whereas the remnant 94.3% (248,224 patients) underwent open repair. High variability in the LAP-IHR rate across the country was observed; ranged between provinces from 0 to 19.7%, for a unilateral hernia, and between 0 to 57.4% in the case of bilateral hernias. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the patient place of residence was the most remarkable factor associated with the likelihood of receiving LAP-IHR (OR 4.96; p < 0.001). There were also significant differences favoring LAP-IHR for bilateral operation (OR 4.596; p < 0.001), insurance coverage (OR 4.439, p < 0.001) and self-pay patients (OR 2.317; p < 0.001), as well as a recurrent hernia (OR 1.780; p < 0.001), age younger than 65 years (OR 1.555; p < 0.001) and male sex (OR 1.162, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: LAP-IHR remains a not frequent choice among surgeons in Spain, even when dealing with recurrent and bilateral hernias. The results suggest that the choice of LAP-IHR could depend on the surgeon's preference rather than on the indication appropriateness.

Long-term incisional hernia rate after single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy is significantly higher than that after standard three-port laparoscopy: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is a feasible technique that provides comparable results to standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). However, despite the theoretical advantages of minor wound complications and cosmetic results, SILC usually requires a larger incision, which may increase the incidence of incisional hernias. This study evaluated SILC and standard multiport cholecystectomy with respect to perioperative outcomes, hospital stay, cosmetic results, and postoperative complications, including the 5-year incisional hernia rate. METHODS: A cohort study was performed with patients who underwent elective laparoscopic surgery for noncomplicated cholelithiasis at our hospital between July 2009 and June 2011. During the study period, there were 45 nonselected patients who underwent SILC, and these patients were compared with a control group of 140 patients who underwent LC using the standard three-trocar technique during the same period. Both patient groups were comparable in age, gender, BMI and ASA classification. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 58.7 ± 10.9 (range 3-80) months. There were no differences between groups in terms of hospital stay, rate and severity of complications, wound infection, and patient cosmetic satisfaction. However, the operating time (57.8 versus 35.2 min) and long-term incisional hernia rate (13.3% versus 4.7%) were significantly higher in the SILC group. CONCLUSION: SILC is associated with a statistically significantly higher long-term incisional hernia rate at the umbilical port site than the standard multiport laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our data show there was no relevant advantage regarding the postoperative course, hospital stay or cosmetic satisfaction. To date, widespread use of SILC cannot be recommended. Registration number: NCT03768661 (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov). TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov. The clinicaltrials.gov ID number is: NCT03768661.

Long-term follow-up (at 5 years) of midline incisional hernia repairs using a primary closure and prosthetic onlay technique: recurrence and quality of life.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The recurrence rate of incisional hernia (IH) repair is usually underestimated due to a lack of long-term follow-up. The objective of this study was to evaluate recurrence rate for patients operated on midline IH surgery, using a primary closure and prosthetic onlay technique, 5 years after the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2009 to January 2011, all 92 patients operated on elective midline IH repair by primary closure and prosthetic onlay technique in a General Surgery Department were retrospectively included in the study. Exclusion criteria were absence of follow-up or death. Recurrence rate and quality of life were assessed. Demographic, surgical data and quality of life in patients with and without 5-year recurrence were compared. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 64 months. Ultimately, 76 patients were included in the study, representing 82% of the selected patients during the study period (76/92), of whom 24 presented a recurrence (32%). Half (12) were diagnosed for recurrence more than 3 years after the surgery. Patients who developed a recurrence had more percentage of obesity (64 vs. 29%, p = 0.016), which denoted an odds ratio (OR) for recurrence of 4.4 (1.2-15.7; p = 0.01) and they punctuated lower in quality of life (6.0 ± 2.9 vs. 7.6 ± 2.6, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence rate on midline IH repair is still a concern (32% at 5 years). It is advisable to look for other strategies and more efficient surgical techniques for IH surgery, especially in obese patients.

Randomized clinical trial of mesh fixation with glue or sutures for Lichtenstein hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: Pain is the most likely reason for delay in resuming normal activities after groin hernia repair. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the use of glue to fix the mesh instead of sutures reduced acute postoperative pain after inguinal hernia repair. Secondary objectives were to compare postoperative complications, chronic pain and early recurrence rates during 1-year follow-up. METHODS: Some 370 patients who underwent Lichtenstein hernia repair were randomized to receive either glue (Histoacryl®) or non-absorbable polypropylene sutures for fixation of lightweight polypropylene mesh. Postoperative complications, pain and recurrence were evaluated by an independent blinded observer. RESULTS: Postoperative pain at 8 h, 24 h, 7 days and 30 days was less when glue was used instead of sutures for all measures (P < 0·001). The operation was significantly quicker using glue (mean(s.d.) 35·3(8·7) min versus 39·9(11·1) min for sutures; P < 0·001). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of postoperative complications, chronic pain and early recurrence at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Atraumatic mesh fixation with glue was quicker and resulted in less acute postoperative pain than sutures for Lichtenstein hernia repair. Registration number: NCT02632097 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).