Umbilical hernia: factors indicative of recurrence.

UNLABELLED: Umbilical hernia has gained little attention from surgeons in comparison with other types of abdominal wall hernias (inguinal, postoperative); however, the primary suture for umbilical hernia is associated with a recurrence rate of 19-54%. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of the umbilical hernia repair and to assess the independent risk factors influencing umbilical hernia recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent surgery for umbilical hernia in the Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine in 2001-2006 was performed. Age, sex, hospital stay, hernia size, patient's body mass index, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Postoperative evaluation included pain and discomfort in the abdomen and hernia recurrence rate. The questionnaire, which involved all these previously mentioned topics, was sent to all patients by mail. Hernia recurrence was diagnosed during the patients' visit to a surgeon. Two surgical methods were used to repair umbilical hernia: open suture repair technique (keel technique) and open mesh repair technique (onlay technique). Every operation was chosen individually by a surgeon. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients (31 males and 66 females) with umbilical hernia were examined. The mean age of the patients was 57.1+/-15.4 years, hernia anamnesis - 7.6+/-8.6 years, hospital stay - 5.38+/-3.8 days. Ninety-two patients (94.8%) were operated on using open suture repair technique and 5 (5.2%) patients - open mesh repair technique. Only 7% of patients whose BMI was >30 kg/m(2) and hernia size >2 cm and 4.3% of patients whose BMI was < 30 kg/m(2) and hernia size < 2 cm were operated on using onlay technique (P>0.05). The rate of postoperative complications was 5.2%. Sixty-seven patients (69%) answered the questionnaire. The complete patient's recovery time after surgery was 2.4+/-3.4 months. Fourteen patients (20.9%) complained of pain or discomfort in the abdomen, and 7 patients (10.4%) had ligature fistula after the surgery. Forty-five patients (67.2%) did not have any complaints after surgery. The recurrence rate after umbilical hernia repair was 8.9%. The recurrence rate was higher when hernia size was >2 cm (9% for <2 cm vs 10.5% for >2 cm) and patient's BMI was >30 kg/m(2) (8.6% for < 30 vs 10.7% for >30). There were 5 recurrence cases after open suture repair and one case after onlay technique. Fifty-six patients (83.6%) assessed their general condition after surgery as good, 9 patients (13.4%) as satisfactory, and only 2 patients (3%) as poor. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find any significant independent risk factors for umbilical hernia recurrence. However, based on reviewed literature, higher patient's body mass index and hernia size of >2 cm could be the risk factors for umbilical hernia recurrence.

Long-term results of incisional hernia treatment.

UNLABELLED: Ventral hernia is a common problem in general surgery practice. Incisional hernia can develop in 15-25% of patients after abdominal surgery. The aim of this study was to compare two different methods of incisional hernia surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of database of surgery department from 1997 to 2000 was performed. All patients were divided into two groups. The first group patients were operated using open suture repair (keel technique); the second group patients--using open mesh repair (onlay technique). Long-term follow-up was done by a mail questionnaire. A special questionnaire was sent to all patients. Postoperative evaluation included pain and discomfort in the abdomen, physical activity, and recurrence rate after operation. Statistical evaluation was conduced using descriptive analysis: the unpaired Student t test to compare parametric criterions between two study groups, Mann-Whitney U test to compare the unpaired nonparametric criterions between two study groups, and chi2 test to investigate nonparametric criterions between these groups. RESULTS: A total of 202 patients (51 males, 151 females) with incisional hernia were operated during 1997-2000. One hundred seventy-one patients were in the keel technique group, and 31 patients in the onlay technique group. There were no significantly differences in age and sex between these groups. The hospitalization time was significantly longer in the open mesh repair group. The postoperative complication (wound seroma and suppuration) rate was significantly higher in the onlay technique group. One hundred sixty-one patients (79.7%) answered the questionnaire (133 in the keel technique group, 28 the in onlay technique group). The patients' return to physical activity after surgery was significantly longer in the keel technique group. Forty-one patients (31%) had hernia recurrence in the keel technique group and 3 patients (11%) in the onlay technique group (P<0.05). There were no postoperative deaths in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of postoperative therapeutic complications and hernia recurrence are significantly lower after open mesh repair surgery. Return to normal physical activity after surgery is significantly longer after open suture repair surgery.