Open Underlay Mesh Reinforced Large Incisional Hernia Repair—Prospective Observational Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Introduction : Incisional hernias frequently complicate abdominal surgeries with a varied incidence as reported to be 2% - 20%. The risk factors of development of incisional hernias include immunocompromised state, diabetes mellitus, smoking, obesity, wound infection at the index surgery, emergency surgery. Materials and Methods : The study design was prospective and included 62 patients with incisional hernias. The patients were evaluated preoperatively on OPD basis with history, clinical examination, baseline investigation, ultrasound abdomen and computed tomogram. Results : The mean age was 48.9 years with male:female ratio of 1:1.4. Mean BMI was 30.1 kg/m 2 . Out of 62 patients in the study 61.2% had concomitant hypertension and were on treatment for the same. 30.6% were clinically hypothyroid, 38.7% were diabetic and 54.8% were smokers. There were multiple factors present in patients in the current study which were observed to be possible to have risked the patients to incisional hernias after an abdominal surgery. 21 patients had defect size ranging from 5 to 10 cm and 41 patients were bearing a hernia of the defect size of 10 cm or more. The mean operative time was 221.7 minutes. Conclusion : Incisional hernias are a part of surgical practice that would probably glue to it to the end of time. A progression from primitive suture repair with recurrence rates of over 65% to modern day mesh reinforced repairs with recurrences aimed at 0% is always welcome. But still then the placement of mesh in different positions or layers of abdominal wall yields different results.