Outcomes of posterior sheath supplementation with Vicryl mesh in TAR-a single-center study.

INTRODUCTION: In the Transversus Abdominis Release (TAR) procedure, ideally, the posterior sheath is completely reapproximated to establish an interface isolating the polypropylene mesh from visceral contents. When primary closure of the posterior sheath is unachievable, Vicryl mesh is commonly used to supplement the posterior sheath closure and an uncoated polypropylene mesh is placed superficial to the Vicryl mesh. The long-term implications of utilizing Vicryl mesh as an antiadhesive barrier are poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to assess our outcomes when utilizing Vicryl mesh to supplement the posterior sheath defects when placed underneath polypropylene mesh in patients undergoing posterior component separation. METHODS: Adult patients who underwent VHR with concurrent TAR procedure with a permanent synthetic mesh and posterior sheath supplementation with Vicryl mesh in the Cleveland Clinic Center for Abdominal Core Health between January 2014 and December 2022 were queried retrospectively from a prospectively collected database in the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative. We evaluated 30-day wound morbidity, perioperative complications, long-term mesh-related complications, and pragmatic hernia recurrence. RESULTS: 53 patients who underwent TAR procedure with posterior sheath supplementation using Vicryl mesh and had a minimum 12-month follow-up were identified. Of the 53 patients, 94.3% presented with recurrent hernias, 73.6% had a midline hernia, 7.5% had a flank hernia, and 18.9% had concurrent parastomal hernia. The mean hernia width was 24.9 cm (± 8.8 cm). No Vicryl mesh-related operative complications were identified in our study, with no instances of mesh erosion, fistulas, or interventions for small bowel obstruction. Skin necrosis requiring reoperations was observed in three patients (5.7%), leading to permanent mesh excision in two cases (3.8%) without intraabdominal visceral involvement. Throughout the 12-month follow-up, 23 incidences (43.4%) of surgical site occurrences (SSOs) and surgical site occurrences requiring procedural intervention (SSOPI) were documented. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that posterior sheath supplementation with Vicryl mesh is a feasible approach to achieve posterior sheath closure in challenging abdominal wall reconstruction cases. Given the absence of notable mesh-related complications and a similar hernia recurrence rate to cases without posterior sheath supplementation, Vicryl mesh can be used to safely achieve posterior sheath closure in complex reconstructions with insufficient native tissue.

Parastomal hernia repair, trying to optimize the impossible reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Parastomal hernias are a common and challenging problem with high rates of wound complications and hernia recurrence after repair. We present our approach to optimizing parastomal hernia repair through preoperative preparation, surgical approach, and postoperative management. METHODS: Patients are carefully evaluated and optimized prior to surgery. Our typical surgical approach involves a generous midline laparotomy and retrorectus dissection followed by a posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release. We typically utilize a Sugarbaker technique for retromuscular mesh placement but also use the retromuscular keyhole or cruciate technique if there is insufficient bowel length. RESULTS: Previously published results from our institution include wound complication rates of up to 16% after open retromuscular parastomal hernia repair. Stoma-specific complications, such as mesh erosion in the bowel, may be attributed to the mesh placement techniques. Hernia recurrence rates range from 11 to 30% up to 2 years postoperatively. CONCLUSION: We prefer an open retromuscular approach with a Sugarbaker mesh configuration to treat complex parastomal hernias. However, wound morbidity and repair failure rates remain high, and additional research is needed to optimize surgical outcomes.

Can surgeons accurately identify mesh type when interpreting computed tomography scans after ventral hernia repair?

BACKGROUND: Recurrent ventral hernia repair can be challenging due to scarred tissue planes and the increasing complexity of disease related to multiple recurrences. Given the challenges of acquiring complete and accurate prior operative reports, surgeons often rely on computed tomography (CT) scans to obtain information and plan for re-operation. Still, the contribution of CT scans and the ability of surgeons to interpret them is controversial. Previously, we examined the ability of surgeons to determine prior operative techniques based on CT scans. Here, we assessed the accuracy of expert abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) surgeons in identifying the type of prior mesh using CT imaging. METHODS: A total of 22 highly experienced AWR surgeons were asked to evaluate 21 CT scans of patients who had undergone open ventral hernia repair with bilateral transversus abdominis release utilizing mesh. The surgeons were required to identify the mesh type from a multiple-choice selection. Additionally, negative controls (patients without a history of prior laparotomy) and positive controls (patients with laparotomy but no ventral hernia repair) were incorporated. The accuracy of the surgeons and interrater reliability was calculated. RESULTS: The accuracy rate of the surgeons in correctly identifying the mesh type was 46%, with heavy-weight synthetic mesh (HWSM) being identified only 35.4% of the time, Strattice mesh and medium-weight synthetic mesh (MWSM) were identified at 46.3%, and 51.8%, respectively. The interrater reliability analysis found a moderate level of agreement 0.428 (95% CI 0.356-0.503), and the repeatability measure was poor-0.053 (95% CI 0-0.119); this indicates that surgeons cannot reliably replicate the identification process. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons' ability to accurately identify the type of previous mesh using CT scans is poor. This study underscores the importance of documenting the type of mesh used in the operative report and the need for standardized operative notes to improve the accuracy and consistency of documentation.

Outcomes of complex abdominal wall reconstruction in patients with connective tissue disorders: a single center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Individuals diagnosed with connective tissue disorders (CTD) are known to be predisposed to incisional hernia formation. However, there is a scarcity of data on outcomes for these patients undergoing hernia repair. We sought to describe our outcomes in performing abdominal wall reconstructions in these complex patients. METHODS: Adult patients with CTD undergoing open, elective, posterior component separation with permanent synthetic mesh at our institution from January 2018 to October 2022 were queried from a prospectively collected database in the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative. We evaluated 30-day wound morbidity, perioperative complications, long-term hernia recurrence, and patient-reported quality of life. RESULTS: Twelve patients were identified. Connective tissue disorders included Marfan's n = 7 (58.3%), Loeys-Dietz syndrome n = 2 (16.7%), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus n = 2 (16.7%), and Scleroderma n = 1 (8.3%). Prior incisions included three midline laparotomies and nine thoracoabdominal, mean hernia width measured 14 cm, and 9 were recurrent hernias. Surgical site occurrences (SSOs) were observed in 25% of cases, and 16.7% necessitated procedural intervention. All twelve patients were available for long-term follow-up, with a mean of 34 (12-62) months. There were no instances of reoperation or mesh excision related to the TAR procedure. One patient developed a recurrence after having his mesh violated for repair of a new visceral aneurysm. Mean HerQLes scores at 1 year were 70 and 89 at ≥ 2 years; Mean scaled PROMIS scores were 30.7 at 1 year and 36.3 at ≥ 2 years. CONCLUSION: Ventral hernia repair with TAR is feasible in patients with connective tissue disorder and can be a suitable alternative in patients with large complex hernias.

Analysis of retromuscular drain output and postoperative outcomes for heavyweight versus mediumweight polypropylene mesh following open ventral hernia repair.

PURPOSE: Heavyweight polypropylene (HWPP) mesh is thought to increase inflammatory response and delay tissue integration compared to mediumweight (MWPP). Reactive fluid volume (i.e., drain output) may be a reasonable surrogate for integration. We hypothesized that daily drain output is higher with HWPP compared to MWPP in open retromuscular ventral hernia repair (VHR). METHODS: This is a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, randomized clinical trial conducted March 2017-April 2019 comparing MWPP and HWPP for VHR. Retromuscular drain output in milliliters was measured at 24-h intervals up to postoperative day seven. Univariate analyses compared differences in daily drain output and time to drain removal. Multivariable analyses compared total drain output and wound morbidity within 30 days and hernia recurrence at 1 year. RESULTS: 288 patients were included; 140 (48.6%) HWPP and 148 (51.4%) MWPP. Daily drain output for days 1-3 was higher for HWPP vs. MWPP (total volume: 837.8 mL vs. 656.5 mL) (p < 0.001), but similar on days 4-7 (p > 0.05). Median drain removal time was 5 days for both groups. Total drain output was not predictive of 30-day wound morbidity (p > 0.05) or hernia recurrence at 1 year (OR 1, p = 0.29). CONCLUSION: While HWPP mesh initially had higher drain outputs, it rapidly returned to levels similar to MWPP by postoperative day three and there was no difference in clinical outcomes. We believe that drains placed around HWPP mesh can be managed similarly to MWPP mesh.

The impact of comorbidities on postoperative outcomes of ventral hernia repair: the patients' perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Ventral hernia repair (VHR) outcomes can be adversely affected by modifiable patient co-morbidities, such as diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Although this concept is well accepted among surgeons, the extent to which patients understand the significance of their co-morbidities is unknown, and a few studies have sought to determine patient perspectives regarding the impact of their modifiable co-morbidities on their post-operative outcomes. We attempted to determine how accurately patients predict their surgical outcomes after VHR compared to a surgical risk calculator while considering their modifiable co-morbidities. METHODS: This is a prospective, single-center, survey-based study evaluating patients' perceptions of how their modifiable risk factors affect outcomes after elective ventral hernia repair. Pre-operatively, after surgeon counseling, patients predicted the percentage of impact that they believed their modifiable co-morbidities (diabetes, obesity, and smoking) had on 30-day surgical site infections (SSI) and hospital readmissions. Their predictions were compared to the Outcomes Reporting App for CLinicians and Patient Engagement (ORACLE) surgical risk calculator. Results were analyzed using demographic information. RESULTS: 222 surveys were administered and 157 were included in the analysis after excluding for incomplete data. 21% had diabetes, 85% were either overweight with body mass index (BMI) 25-29.9 or obese (BMI ≥ 30), and 22% were smokers. The overall mean SSI rate was 10.8%, SSOPI rate was 12.7%, and 30-day readmission rate was 10.2%. ORACLE predictions correlated with observed SSI rates (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.12-1.54, p < 0.001), but patient predictions did not (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.98-1.03, p = 0.868). The correlation between patient predictions and ORACLE calculations was weak ([Formula: see text] = 0.17). Patient predictions were on average 10.1 ± 18.0% different than ORACLE, and 65% overestimated their SSI probability. Similarly, ORACLE predictions correlated with observed 30-day readmission rates (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.00-1.21, p = 0.0459), but patient predictions did not (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.975-1.03, p = 0.784). The correlation between patient predictions and ORACLE calculations for readmissions was weak ([Formula: see text] = 0.27). Patient predictions were on average 2.4 ± 14.6% different than ORACLE, and 56% underestimated their readmission probability. Additionally, a substantial proportion of the cohort believed that they had a 0% risk of SSI (28%) and a 0% risk of readmission (43%). Education, income and healthcare employment did not affect the accuracy of patient predictions. CONCLUSIONS: Despite surgeon counseling, patients do not accurately estimate their risks after VHR when compared to ORACLE. Most patients overestimate their SSI risk and underestimate their 30-day readmission risk. Furthermore, several patients believed that they had a 0% risk of SSI and readmission. These findings persisted regardless of level of education, income level, or healthcare employment. Additional attention should be directed toward setting expectations prior to surgery and using applications such as ORACLE to assist in this process.

Can a free weight management program "move the needle" for obese patients preparing for hernia surgery?: outcomes of a novel pilot program.

PURPOSE: Obesity is known to result in increased morbidity and risk of hernia recurrence after ventral hernia repair; however, many patients lack the resources to pursue guided weight loss. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a free Weight Management Navigator (WMN) program on preoperative weight loss for patients with Class 2 or 3 obesity and complex ventral hernias seeking surgical repair. METHODS: From September 2019 and December 2020, all patients with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 and ventral hernias seeking surgical care were identified in outpatient clinics at a high-volume hernia center and were offered participation in a free WMN program by the attending surgeon. Descriptive analysis was performed to analyze participation in the program and average weight loss during study period. RESULTS: One hundred ninety one patients were identified. Most patients declined to participate in a weight loss program, were unable to be reached, or did not respond to the WMN (58.1%). Eighty patients enrolled in a WMN program, forty-four of which were lost to follow-up (55%). Seventeen patients underwent hernia repair, nine of which were enrolled in a WMN program. Mean weight loss for those enrolled in a program was 5.97 kg compared to 1.8 kg for those who did not participate (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Enrollment in weight loss programs was low despite encouragement from surgeons, free programs, and accessible platforms. Participation in the WMN correlated with more successful weight loss. Our findings suggest that inability to lose weight may be multifactorial. Further study should be devoted to determining other common barriers to weight loss.