Year-Over-Year Ventral Hernia Recurrence Rates and Risk Factors.

Importance: Recurrence is one of the most challenging adverse events after ventral hernia repair as it impacts quality of life, utilization of resources, and subsequent need for re-repair. Rates of recurrence range from 30% to 80% after ventral hernia repair. Objective: To determine the contemporary ventral hernia recurrence rate over time in patients with previous hernia repair and to determine risk factors associated with recurrence. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective, population-based study used the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative registry to evaluate year-over-year recurrence rates in patients with prior ventral hernia repair between January 2012 and August 2022. Patients who underwent at least 1 prior ventral hernia repair were included and categorized into 2 groups based on mesh or no-mesh use. There were 43 960 eligible patients; after exclusion criteria (patients with concurrent inguinal hernias as the primary diagnosis, nonstandard hernia procedure categories, American Society of Anesthesiologists class unassigned, or no follow-up), 29 834 patients were analyzed in the mesh group and 5599 in the no-mesh group. Main Outcomes and Measures: Ventral hernia recurrence rates. Risk factors analyzed include age, body mass index, sex, race, insurance type, medical comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, smoking, indication for surgery, concomitant procedure, hernia procedure type, myofascial release, fascial closure, fixation type, number of prior repairs, hernia width, hernia length, mesh width, mesh length, operative approach, prior mesh placement, prior mesh infection, mesh location, mesh type, postoperative surgical site occurrence, postoperative surgical site infection, postoperative seroma, use of drains, and reoperation. Results: Among 29 834 patients with mesh, the mean (SD) age was 57.17 (13.36) years, and 14 331 participants (48.0%) were female. Among 5599 patients without mesh, the mean (SD) age was 51.9 (15.31) years, and 2458 participants (43.9%) were female. When comparing year-over-year hernia recurrence rates in patients with and without prior mesh repair, respectively, the Kaplan Meier analysis showed a recurrence rate of 201 cumulative events with 13 872 at risk (2.8%) vs 104 cumulative events with 1707 at risk (4.0%) at 6 months; 411 cumulative events with 4732 at risk (8.0%) vs 184 cumulative events with 427 at risk (32.6%) at 1 year; 640 cumulative events with 1518 at risk (19.7%) vs 243 cumulative events with 146 at risk (52.4%) at 2 years; 731 cumulative events with 670 at risk (29.3%) vs 258 cumulative events with 73 at risk (61.4%) at 3 years; 777 cumulative events with 337 at risk (38.5%) vs 267 cumulative events with 29 at risk (71.2%) at 4 years; and 798 cumulative events with 171 at risk (44.9%) vs 269 cumulative events with 19 at risk (73.7%) at 5 years. Higher body mass index; immunosuppressants; incisional and parastomal hernias; a robotic approach; greater hernia width; use of a biologic or resorbable synthetic mesh; and complications, such as surgical site infections and reoperation, were associated with higher odds of hernia recurrence. Conversely, greater mesh width, myofascial release, and fascial closure had lower odds of recurrence. Hernia type was the most important variable associated with recurrence. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, the 5-year recurrence rate after ventral hernia repair was greater than 40% and 70% in patients with and without mesh, respectively. Rates of ventral hernia recurrence increased over time, underscoring the importance of close, long-term follow up in this population.

The association of hernia-specific and procedural risk factors with early complications in ventral hernia repair: ACHQC analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many surgical risk assessment tools emphasize patient-specific risk factors. Our objective was to use a hernia-specific database to assess risk factors of complications in ventral hernia repair (VHR) focusing on hernia-specific and procedural factors. METHODS: The ACHQC database was queried for elective VHR in adults from 2012 to 2023. Primary outcome was overall 30-day complications. Multivariable logistic regression was used for analysis. RESULTS: 41,526 VHR were included. The rate of 30-day complications was 18%, surgical site infection 3%, surgical site occurrence requiring procedural intervention 4%, readmission 4%, reoperation 2%, and mortality 0.2%. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that BMI, ASA, frailty, COPD, anticoagulants, defect width, incisional and recurrent hernias, presence of stoma or prior mesh, prior abdominal wall infection, non-clean wound, operative time, open approach and myofascial release were associated with 30-day complications (OR â€‹= â€‹1.01-1.66). Preoperative chlorhexidine, bowel preparation and fascial closure were associated with lower complication risk (OR â€‹= â€‹0.70-0.89). CONCLUSION: Hernia and procedural risk factors are associated with early complications following elective VHR. These factors need to be included in surgical risk assessment tools, to supplement patient-specific factors.

Prevention of component separation in complex abdominal wall surgery by Botox prehabilitation: a propensity-matched study.

AIM: To facilitate midline fascial closure in complex abdominal wall surgery, component separation techniques (CST) are usually required. However, CST is associated with an enlarged morbidity. Prehabilitation could increase the compliance of the abdominal wall and thereby decrease the necessity of myofascial release. This can be accomplished by administration of botulinum toxin type A (BTA) in the lateral abdominal wall musculature. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of BTA on the subsequent necessity to perform CST in patients with complex abdominal wall hernias. METHODS: Patients with a complex abdominal wall hernia, planned to undergo CST between July 2020 and November 2022 were included. Outcome of procedures with 300U of BTA 4 (2-6) weeks prior to surgery, were retrospectively analyzed by comparison with propensity matched subjects of an historical group. Hernia width difference was assessed by CT and operative details were included. RESULTS: A total of 13 patients with a median hernia width of 12 cm (IQR 9-14, range 24) were prehabilitated with BTA between July 2020 and November 2022. A CST was planned for all, however not required in 6/13 patients (46%) to accomplish midline fascial closure. A mean elongation of lateral abdominal wall musculature of 4.01 cm was seen in patients not requiring CST. Compared to the propensity score matched control group, a 27% reduction (p = 0.08) in the need for CST was observed. CONCLUSION: There is a tendency for decrease of necessity for CST by preoperatively administered BTA in patients with complex abdominal wall defects. Although small, as this study used propensity matched comparison, further exploration of BTA should be encouraged.

Novel insights into patient's thoughts about their body image in abdominal wall hernia.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall hernias (AWH) are frequently large and deforming. Despite this, little is known about how AWH impact upon body image. This study is the first study to qualitatively examine patients' subjective lived experiences of how AWH affects their body image. METHODS: Fifteen patients were interviewed from a purposive sample of AWH patients awaiting surgery until no new narrative themes emerged. Interviews explored patient thoughts and experiences of AWH and body image. Data were examined using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). RESULTS: Two key themes pertaining to body image were identified: "Changes to perceptions of self" and "Fears concerning other's perceptions of them". Both themes were often interrelated and displayed detrimental effects AWH had on patients' body image. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate that AWH detrimentally affected patients' body image. This aspect of patient care can be treated and managed through better pre-operative information, including on body image as part of a holistic needs assessment (HNA), and ensuring the results are addressed in a patient care package. These development suggestions may positively affect the AWH patient's experience and outcomes in terms of Quality of Life (QoL) by preparing patients better for realistic results regarding what can be achieved in terms of form, function thus making a more holistic recovery from surgery.

Female sex and ipsilateral reoperation risk following mesh-based inguinal hernia repair: a cohort study including 131,626 repairs in adults from an integrated healthcare system over a 10-year period.

PURPOSE: We sought to compare females and males for the risk of reoperation following different inguinal hernia repair approaches (open, laparoscopic, and robotic). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all patients aged ≥ 18 who underwent first inguinal hernia repair with mesh within a US integrated healthcare system (2010-2020). Data were obtained from the system's integrated electronic health record. Multiple Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between sex and risk for ipsilateral reoperation during follow-up. Analysis was stratified by surgical approach (open, laparoscopic, and robotic). RESULTS: The study cohort was comprised of 110,805 patients who underwent 131,626 inguinal hernia repairs with mesh, 10,079 (7.7%) repairs were in females. After adjustment for confounders, females had a higher risk of reoperation than males following open groin hernia repair (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.98, 95% CI 1.74-2.25), but a lower reoperation risk following laparoscopic repair (HR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.51-0.97). The crude 5-year cumulative reoperation probability following robotic repair was 2.8% in males and no reoperations were observed for females. Of females who had a reoperation, 10.3% (39/378) were for a femoral hernia, while only 0.6% (18/3110) were for femoral hernias in males. CONCLUSION: In a large multi-center cohort of mesh-based inguinal hernia repair patients, we found a higher risk for reoperation in females after an open repair approach compared to males. Lower risk was observed for females through a minimally invasive approach (laparoscopic or robotic) and may be due to the ability to identify an occult femoral hernia through these approaches.

Determining the Association Between Insurance Type and Myofascial Release in Large Ventral Hernias.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) utilizes advanced myofascial releases to perform complex ventral hernia repair (VHR). The relationship between the performance of AWR and disparities in insurance type is unknown. METHODS: The Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative was queried for adults who had undergone an elective VHR between 2013 and 2020 with a hernia size ≥10 cm. Patients with missing insurance data were excluded. Comparison groups were divided by insurance type: favorable (private, Medicare, Veteran's Administration, Tricare) or unfavorable (Medicaid and self-pay). Propensity score matching compared the cumulative incidence of AWR between the favorable and unfavorable insurance comparison groups. RESULTS: In total, 26,447 subjects met inclusion criteria. The majority (89%, n = 23,617) had favorable insurance, while (11%, n = 2830) had unfavorable insurance. After propensity score matching, 2821 patients with unfavorable insurance were matched to 7875 patients with favorable insurance. The rate of AWR with external oblique release or transversus abdominis release was significantly higher (23%, n = 655) among the unfavorable insurance group compared to those with favorable insurance (21%, n = 1651; P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that patients with unfavorable insurance may undergo AWR with external oblique or transversus abdominis release at a greater rate than similar patients with favorable insurance. Understanding the mechanisms contributing to this difference and evaluating the financial implications of these trends represent important directions for future research in elective VHR.

Assessing Alternative Approaches for Wound Closure in a National Pediatric Learning Health System.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to perform a feasibility study using real-world data from a learning health system (LHS) to describe current practice patterns of wound closure and explore differences in outcomes associated with the use of tissue adhesives and other methods of wound closure in the pediatric surgical population to inform a potentially large study. METHODS: A multi-institutional cross-sectional study was performed of a random sample of patients <18 y-old who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy, open or laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, umbilical hernia repair, or repair of traumatic laceration from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. Sociodemographic and operative characteristics were obtained from 6 PEDSnet (a national pediatric LHS) children's hospitals and OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium (a PCORnet collaboration across 14 academic health systems). Additional clinical data elements were collected via chart review. RESULTS: Of the 692 patients included, 182 (26.3%) had appendectomies, 155 (22.4%) inguinal hernia repairs, 163 (23.6%) umbilical hernia repairs, and 192 (27.8%) traumatic lacerations. Of the 500 surgical incisions, sutures with tissue adhesives were the most frequently used (n = 211, 42.2%), followed by sutures with adhesive strips (n = 176, 35.2%), and sutures only (n = 72, 14.4%). Most traumatic lacerations were repaired with sutures only (n = 127, 64.5%). The overall wound-related complication rate was 3.0% and resumption of normal activities was recommended at a median of 14 d (interquartile ranges 14-14). CONCLUSIONS: The LHS represents an efficient tool to identify cohorts of pediatric surgical patients to perform comparative effectiveness research using real-world data to support medical and surgical products/devices in children.

Robotic transversus abdominis release: A paradigm shift in complex abdominal wall surgery?

Abdominal wall reconstruction techniques have evolved significantly over the last fifty years and continue to do so at an increasing pace. Beginning with open incisional hernia repair with bilateral rectus myofascial release, multiple techniques to offset tension at the midline by exploring options of layered myofascial release have been described. This article reviews the history, technique, advancements, and future of myofascial release in abdominal wall reconstruction leading from the open Rives-Stoppa repair to the robotic-assisted iteration of the transversus abdominis release.

Risk factors for inguinal hernia repair among US adults.

PURPOSE: To investigate demographic, clinical, and behavioral risk factors for undergoing inguinal hernia repair within a large and ethnically diverse cohort. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study from 2007 to 2020 on 302,532 US individuals from a large, integrated healthcare delivery system with electronic health records, who participated in a survey of determinants of health. Participants without diagnosis or procedure record of an inguinal hernia at enrollment were included. We then assessed whether demographic (age, sex, race/ethnicity), clinical, and behavioral factors (obesity status, alcohol use, cigarette smoking and physical activity) were predictors of undergoing inguinal hernia repair using survival analyses. Risk factors showing statistical significance (P < 0.05) in the univariate models were added to a multivariate model. RESULTS: We identified 7314 patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair over the study period, with a higher incidence in men (6.31%) compared to women (0.53%). In a multivariate model, a higher incidence of inguinal hernia repair was associated with non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, older age, male sex (aHR = 13.55 [95% confidence interval 12.70-14.50]), and more vigorous physical activity (aHR = 1.24 [0.045]), and alcohol drinker status (aHR = 1.05 [1.00-1.11]); while African-American (aHR = 0.69 [0.59-0.79]), Hispanic/Latino (aHR = 0.84 [0.75-0.91]), and Asian (aHR = 0.35 [0.31-0.39]) race/ethnicity, obesity (aHR = 0.33 [0.31-0.36]) and overweight (aHR = 0.71 [0.67-0.75]) were associated with a lower incidence. The use of cigarette was significantly associated with a higher incidence of inguinal hernia repair in women (aHR 1.23 [1.09-1.40]), but not in men (aHR 0.96 [0.91-1.02]). CONCLUSION: Inguinal hernia repair is positively associated with non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, older age, male sex, increased physical activity, alcohol consumption and tobacco use (only in women); while negatively associated with obesity and overweight status. Findings from this large and ethnically diverse study may support future prediction tools to identify patients at high risk of this surgery.

Rectus to defect ratio for estimating the complexity of ventral hernia repair: Is it reliable for robotic surgery?

INTRODUCTION: The rectus to defect ratio (RDR) has been previously described as a metric which enables surgeons to estimate the need to perform additional myofascial release (AMR), in addition to open Rives-Stoppa retro-muscular hernia repair. We sought to validate this measurement specifically for patients undergoing robotic totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) hernia repair. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 188 patients who underwent robotic ventral hernia repair via eTEP approach. RDR on preoperative CT was compared to the final operation rendered. The primary endpoint was the RDR's ability to predict the need for TAR to achieve fascial closure. RESULTS: Of 188 patients, 154 were repaired with rectus myofascial release, while 34 also required TAR. There was a linear decrease in the need for TAR with increasing RDR. RDR 1-1.49 (n â€‹= â€‹12) required TAR in 66.7 â€‹% of cases, RDR 1.5-1.99 (n â€‹= â€‹25) in 43.8 â€‹%, RDR 2-2.49 (n â€‹= â€‹31) in 29 â€‹%, and RDR >2.5 (n â€‹= â€‹151) in just 5.8 â€‹% CONCLUSION: The RDR accurately predicts the need for TAR to achieve fascial closure during robotic eTEP ventral hernia repair. An RDR >2.5 portends fascial closure without TAR 94.2 â€‹% of cases.

Risk factors for reoperation following inguinal hernia repair: results from a cohort of patients from an integrated healthcare system.

PURPOSE: Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common operations performed globally. Identification of risk factors that contribute to hernia recurrence following an index inguinal hernia repair, especially those that are modifiable, is of paramount importance. Therefore, we sought to investigate risk factors for reoperation following index inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: 125,133 patients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent their first inguinal hernia repair with mesh within a large US integrated healthcare system were identified for a cohort study (2010-2020). Laparoscopic, robotic, and open procedures were included. The system's integrated electronic health record was used to obtain data on demographics, patient characteristics, surgical characteristics, and reoperations. The association of these characteristics with ipsilateral reoperation during follow-up was modeled using Cox proportional-hazards regression. Risk factors were selected into the final model by stepwise regression with Akaike Information Criteria, which quantifies the amount of information lost if a factor is left out of the model. Factors associated with reoperation with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of reoperation at 5-year follow-up was 2.4% (95% CI 2.3-2.5). Increasing age, female gender, increasing body mass index, White race, chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, drug abuse, peripheral vascular disease, and bilateral procedures all associated with a higher risk for reoperation during follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study identifies several risk factors associated with reoperation following inguinal hernia repair. These risk factors may serve as targets for optimization protocols prior to elective inguinal hernia repair, with the goal of reducing reoperation risk.

AI's deep dive into complex pediatric inguinal hernia issues: a challenge to traditional guidelines?

OBJECTIVE: This study utilized ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence program based on large language models, to explore controversial issues in pediatric inguinal hernia surgery and compare its responses with the guidelines of the European Association of Pediatric Surgeons (EUPSA). METHODS: Six contentious issues raised by EUPSA were submitted to ChatGPT 4.0 for analysis, for which two independent responses were generated for each issue. These generated answers were subsequently compared with systematic reviews and guidelines. To ensure content accuracy and reliability, a content analysis was conducted, and expert evaluations were solicited for validation. Content analysis evaluated the consistency or discrepancy between ChatGPT 4.0's responses and the guidelines. An expert scoring method assess the quality, reliability, and applicability of responses. The TF-IDF model tested the stability and consistency of the two responses. RESULTS: The responses generated by ChatGPT 4.0 were mostly consistent with the guidelines. However, some differences and contradictions were noted. The average quality score was 3.33, reliability score was 2.75, and applicability score was 3.46 (out of 5). The average similarity between the two responses was 0.72 (out of 1), Content analysis and expert ratings yielded consistent conclusions, enhancing the credibility of our research. CONCLUSION: ChatGPT can provide valuable responses to clinical questions, but it has limitations and requires further improvement. It is recommended to combine ChatGPT with other reliable data sources to improve clinical practice and decision-making.

Quantitative Tension on the Abdominal Wall in Posterior Components Separation With Transversus Abdominis Release.

Importance: Posterior components separation (PCS) is a commonly used myofascial release technique in ventral hernia repairs. The contribution of each release with anterior and posterior fascial advancement has not yet been characterized in patients with ventral hernias. Objective: To quantitatively assess the changes in tension on the anterior and posterior fascial elements of the abdominal wall during PCS to inform surgeons regarding the technical contribution of each step with those changes, which may help to guide intraoperative decision-making. Design, Setting, and Participants: This case series enrolled patients from December 2, 2021, to August 2, 2022, and was conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Abdominal Core Health. The participants included adult patients with European Hernia Society classification M1 to M5 ventral hernias undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction with PCS. Intervention: A proprietary, sterilizable tensiometer measured the force needed to bring the fascial edge of the abdominal wall to the midline after each step of a PCS (retrorectus dissection, division of the posterior lamella of the internal oblique aponeurosis, and transversus abdominis muscle release [TAR]). Main Outcome: The primary study outcome was the percentage change in tension on the anterior and posterior fascia associated with each step of PCS with TAR. Results: The study included 100 patients (median [IQR] age, 60 [54-68] years; 52 [52%] male). The median (IQR) hernia width was 13.0 (10.0-15.2) cm. After complete PCS, the mean (SD) percentage changes in tension on the anterior and posterior fascia were -53.27% (0.53%) and -98.47% (0.08%), respectively. Of the total change in anterior fascial tension, retrorectus dissection was associated with a mean (SD) percentage change of -82.56% (0.68%), incision of the posterior lamella of the internal oblique with a change of -17.67% (0.41%), and TAR with no change. Of the total change in posterior fascial tension, retrorectus dissection was associated with a mean (SD) percentage change of -3.04% (2.42%), incision of the posterior lamella of the internal oblique with a change of -58.78% (0.39%), and TAR with a change of -38.17% (0.39%). Conclusions and Relevance: In this case series, retrorectus dissection but not TAR was associated with reduced tension on the anterior fascia, suggesting that it should be performed if anterior fascial advancement is needed. Dividing the posterior lamella of the internal oblique aponeurosis and TAR was associated with reduced tension on the posterior fascia, suggesting that it should be performed for posterior fascial advancement.

Mesh overlap for ventral hernia repair in current practice.

INTRODUCTION: Sufficient overlap of mesh beyond the borders of a ventral hernia helps prevent hernia recurrence. Guidelines from the European Hernia Society and American Hernia Society recommend ≥ 2 cm overlap for open repair of < 1-cm hernias, ≥ 3-cm overlap for open repair of 1-4-cm hernias, ≥ 5-cm overlap for open repair of > 4-cm hernias, and ≥ 5-cm overlap for all laparoscopic ventral hernia repairs. We evaluated whether current practice reflects this guidance. METHODS: We used the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative Hernia Registry to evaluate patients who underwent elective ventral and umbilical hernia repair between 2020 and 2022. Mesh overlap was calculated as [(width of mesh - width of hernia)/2]. The main outcome was "sufficient overlap," defined based on published EHS and AHS guidelines. Explanatory variables included patient, operative, and hernia characteristics. The main analysis was a multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the association between explanatory variables and sufficient mesh overlap. RESULTS: 4178 patients underwent ventral hernia repair with a mean age of 55.2 (13.9) years, 1739 (41.6%) females, mean body mass index (BMI) of 33.1 (7.2) kg/m2, and mean hernia width of 3.7 (3.4) cm. Mean mesh overlap was 3.7 (2.5) cm and ranged from - 5.5 to 21.4 cm. Only 1074 (25.7%) ventral hernia repairs had sufficient mesh overlap according to published guidelines. Operative factors associated with increased odds of sufficient overlap included myofascial release (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.35 [95% CI 4.07-7.03]), minimally invasive approach (aOR 1.86 [95% CI 1.60-2.17]), and onlay mesh location (aOR 1.31 [95% CI 1.07-1.59]). Patient factors associated with increased odds of sufficient overlap included prior hernia repair (aOR 1.59 [95% CI 1.32-1.92]). CONCLUSION: Although sufficient mesh overlap is recommended to prevent ventral hernia recurrence, only a quarter of ventral hernia repairs in a state-wide cohort of patients had sufficient overlap according to evidence-based guidelines. Factors strongly associated with sufficient overlap included myofascial release, mesh type, and laparoscopic repair.

Incisional hernias post cytoreductive surgery/peritonectomy and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is often combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for the treatment of peritoneal tumour deposits. Considering CRS, the evidence relating the large incisions, local chemotherapy and abdominal wall trauma to incisional hernias (IH) has not been synthesized. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the proportion of IH present in patients post CRS and the effect HIPEC had on these rates. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Registry of Trials were searched up to June 2023 to examine studies relating IH and CRS plus or minus HIPEC. The most up to date PRISMA guidelines were followed. Pertinent clinical information was synthesized in tabular form. A meta-analysis reporting the pooled proportions of IH post CRS plus or minus HIPEC, the odds of IH in HIPEC versus non-HIPEC CRS and the difference in follow-up time between groups was conducted. RESULTS: Nine studies comprising 1416 patients were included. The pooled proportion of IH post CRS was 12% (95% confidence interval (CI) 8-16%) in HIPEC and 7% (95% CI 4-10%) in non-HIPEC patients and 11% (95% CI 7-14%) overall. Previously reported rates of IH in midline laparotomy range from 10 to 30%. The odds of IH in the HIPEC was 1.9 times higher compared to non-HIPEC cohorts however this was not statistically significant (odds ratio (OR) 1.9, 95% 0.7-5.2; p = 0.21). There was no significant difference in average follow-up times between HIPEC and non-HIPEC cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: IH post CRS plus or minus HIPEC were in the expected range for midline laparotomies. IH in patients receiving HIPEC may occur at a greater proportion than in non-HIPEC patients, however, there were too few studies in our meta-analysis to determine this with statistical significance.

Feasibility and outcomes of Desarda vs Lichtenstein hernioplasty by local anesthesia for inguinal hernia: a noninferiority randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The Desarda autologous tissue repair is comparable to the Lichtenstein hernioplasty for inguinal hernia regarding recurrence, chronic groin pain, and return to work activities. This study was designed to establish the outcomes of Desarda's repair versus Lichtenstein's hernioplasty concerning post-operative recovery to normal gait and its feasibility under local anesthesia (LA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a single-center, prospective, double-blinded, non-inferiority, randomized trial. Patients undergoing open hernia repair for primary inguinal hernia were included. Patients were randomly assigned and followed up for 2 years. The primary endpoint was the time to return to normal gait post-surgery with comfort (non-inferiority margin fixed as 0.5 days). The secondary outcomes studied were post-operative pain score, the time required to return to work (all previously performed activities), and surgical-site occurrences (SSO). RESULTS: One hundred ten eligible patients were randomly assigned [56 patients (50.9%) in the Desarda group and 54 patients (49.1%) in the Lichtenstein group]. All the procedures were safely performed under LA. The median (interquartile range) time for resuming gait post-surgery with comfort was 5 days in the Desarda vs 4 days in Lichtenstein's arm (P = 0.16), thereby failing to demonstrate non-inferiority of Desarda against Lichtenstein hernioplasty. However, there were no significant differences in days to return to work, SSO, chronic groin pain, and recurrence within two years of surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study could not demonstrate the non-inferiority of the Desarda repair versus Lichtenstein hernioplasty regarding the time taken to return to normal gait. Comparing the days to return to work, pain score, SSO, and chronic groin pain, including recurrence rate, Desarda repair faired equally with Lichtenstein hernioplasty, thereby highlighting its feasibility and efficacy under LA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03512366.

Resolution and recurrence of anemia following repair of paraesophageal hernias.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia is a common paraesophageal hernia (PEH) symptom and may improve after repair. When present, anemia has also been proposed to be associated with an increase in length of hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality after PEH repair. This study aimed to determine anemia-related factors in patients with PEH, the rate of anemia resolution after PEH repair, and the risk of anemia recurrence when repair failed. METHODS: We included patients who received a PEH repair between June 2019 and June 2020 and had 24 months of postoperative follow-up. Demographics and comorbidities were recorded. Anemia was defined as pre-operative hemoglobin values < 12.0 for females and < 13.0 for males, or if patients were receiving iron supplementation. Anemia resolution was determined at 6 months post-op. Length of hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality was recorded. Logistic regression and ANCOVA were used for binary and continuous outcomes respectively. RESULTS: Of 394 patients who underwent PEH repair during the study period, 101 (25.6%) had anemia before surgery. Patients with pre-operative anemia had larger hernia sizes (6.55 cm ± 2.77 vs. 4.34 cm ± 2.50; p < 0.001). Of 68 patients with available data by 6 months after surgery, anemia resolved in 36 (52.9%). Hernia recurred in 6 patients (16.7%), 4 of whom also had anemia recurrence (66.7%). Preoperative anemia was associated with a higher length of hospital stay (3.31 days ± 0.54 vs 2.33 days ± 0.19 p = 0.046) and an increased risk of post-operative all-cause mortality (OR 2.7 CI 1.08-6.57 p = 0.05). Fundoplication type (p = 0.166), gastropexy, or mesh was not associated with an increased likelihood of resolution (OR 0.855 CI 0.326-2.243; p = 0.05) (OR 0.440 CI 0.150-1.287; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Anemia occurs in 1 out of 4 patients with PEH and is more frequent in patients with larger hernias. Anemia is associated with a longer hospital stay and all-cause mortality after surgery. Anemia recurrence coincided with hernia recurrence in roughly two-thirds of patients.

Mesh-based inguinal hernia repairs in an integrated healthcare system and surgeon and hospital volume: a cohort study of 110,808 patients from over a decade.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe a cohort of patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair within a United States-based integrated healthcare system (IHS) and evaluate the risk for postoperative events by surgeon and hospital volume within each surgical approach, open, laparoscopic, and robotic. METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent their first inguinal hernia repair were identified for a cohort study (2010-2020). Average annual surgeon and hospital volume were broken into quartiles with the lowest volume quartile as the reference group. Multiple Cox regression evaluated risk for ipsilateral reoperation following repair by volume. All analyses were stratified by surgical approach (open, laparoscopic, and robotic). RESULTS: 110,808 patients underwent 131,629 inguinal hernia repairs during the study years; procedures were performed by 897 surgeons at 36 hospitals. Most repairs were open (65.4%), followed by laparoscopic (33.5%) and robotic (1.1%). Reoperation rates at 5 and 10 years of follow-up were 2.4% and 3.4%, respectively; rates were similar across surgical groups. In adjusted analysis, surgeons with higher laparoscopic volumes had a lower reoperation risk (27-46 average annual repairs: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53-0.74; ≥ 47 repairs: HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.44-0.64) compared to those in the lowest volume quartile (< 14 average annual repairs). No differences in reoperation rates were observed in reference to surgeon or hospital volume following open or robotic inguinal hernia repair. CONCLUSION: High-volume surgeons may reduce reoperation risk following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. We hope to better identify additional risk factors for inguinal hernia repair complications and improve patient outcomes with future studies.

Perioperative Outcomes of Inguinal Hernioplasty along with Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP).

PURPOSE: Inguinal hernias and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can coexist in about one fifth of patients undergoing BPH surgery. There is scarce evidence about performing laser enucleation along with open inguinal hernia repair. Our goal is to describe the perioperative outcomes of performing both surgeries in the same operating session compared to doing HoLEP alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing HoLEP and hernioplasty with mesh in the same anesthetic time (group B) at an academic center was conducted. They were compared to a randomly picked control group of patients submitted to HoLEP alone (group A). Preoperative, operative and postoperative features were compared among both groups. RESULTS: 107 patients submitted to HoLEP alone were compared to 29 combined approach patients (HoLEP + hernia repair). Patients in group A were found to be older and had larger prostates. Group B showed a significant longer operative time. Length of stay and duration of catheter was comparable among groups. In multivariate analysis, the combined approach was not associated to a higher complication rate. CONCLUSION: Performing benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery with HoLEP in conjunction with open inguinal hernioplasty is not related to a higher length of stay or a significantly increased risk of morbidity.