Prophylactic mesh can be used safely in the prevention of incisional hernia after bilateral subcostal laparotomies.

BACKGROUND: The use of prophylactic mesh to prevent incisional hernia is becoming increasingly common in midline laparotomies and colostomies. The incidence of incisional hernia after subcostal laparotomies is lower than after midline incisions. Nevertheless, the treatment of subcostal incisional hernia is considered to be more complex. Currently, there are no published data about mesh augmentation procedures to close these laparotomies. METHODS: This was a longitudinal, prospective, cohort study of patients undergoing a bilateral subcostal laparotomy in elective operations. The mesh group was a group of patients operated consecutively between 2011 and 2013 with a prophylactic self-fixation mesh. The control group was selected from a retrospective analysis of patients operated between 2009 and 2010 and closed with a conventional protocol of 2-layer closure. The incidence of incisional hernia was recorded both clinically and radiologically for 2 years. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients were included in the control group and 58 in the mesh group. Most patients underwent gastric, hepatic, and pancreatic operations. Both groups were homogeneous in terms of their clinical and demographic characteristics. Operative time and hospital stay were similar in both groups. Both groups had a comparable rate of local and systemic complications. Ten patients (17.5%) in the control group developed an incisional hernia, and only 1 patient (1.7%) in the mesh group developed an incisional hernia (P = .0006). CONCLUSION: The incidence of incisional hernia after a conventional closure of bilateral subcostal laparotomy is significant. The use of a mesh augmentation procedure for closing bilateral subcostal laparotomies is safe and may reduce the incidence of incisional hernia.

Randomized controlled trial of the use of a large-pore polypropylene mesh to prevent incisional hernia in colorectal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To reduce the incidence of incisional hernia (IH) in colorectal surgery by implanting a mesh on the overlay position. BACKGROUND: The incidence of IH in colorectal surgery may be as high as 40%. IH causes severe health and cosmetic problems, and its repair increases health care costs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized, controlled, prospective trial. Patients undergoing any colorectal procedure (both elective and emergency) through a midline laparotomy were divided into 2 groups. The abdomen was closed with an identical technique in both groups, except for the implantation of an overlay large-pore polypropylene mesh in the study group. Patients were followed up clinically and radiologically for 24 months. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were included: 53 in the study group and 54 in the control group. Both groups were homogeneous, except for a higher incidence of diabetes in the mesh group. There were 20 emergency procedures in the study group and 17 in the control group. There were no statistical differences in surgical site infections, seromas, or mortality between the groups (33.3%, 13.8%, and 3.7% in the control group and 18.9%, 13.2%, and 3.8% in the study group). No mesh rejection was reported. The incidence of IH was 17 of 54 (31.5%) in the control group and 6 of 53 (11.3%) in the study group (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of IH is high in patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery for colorectal diseases. The addition of a prophylactic large-pore polypropylene mesh on the overlay position decreases the incidence of IH without adding morbidity.