Even with the routine use of mesh, repairing an incisional hernia is a challenge. Increasing evidence of impaired wound healing in these patients supports routine use of an open prefascial, retromuscular mesh repair. Basic pathophysiologic principles dictate that for a successful long-term outcome and prevention of recurrence a wide overlap underneath healthy tissue is required. The extent of this overlap should be 5 cm in all directions: surrounding the wound closure, subxiphoidal underneath the ribs, below the arcuate line, and retropubic.
BackgroundThe increased use of laparoscopy has resulted in certain complications specifically associated with the laparoscopic approach, such as port-site incisional hernia (PIH). Until today, it is not finally clarified if port-site closure should be performed by fascia suture or not. Furthermore, the optimal treatment strategy in PIH (suture vs. mesh) is still widely unclear. The aim of this study was to present our experience with PIH in two independent departments and to derive possible treatment strategies from these results.MethodsBetween 2003 and 2013, 54 patients were operated due to port-site incisional hernia in two surgical centres. Their data were collected and retrospectively analyzed depending on surgical technique of port-site hernia repair (Mesh repair group, n = 13 vs. Suture only group, n = 41).ResultsPort site incisional hernia occurred in 96% (52 patients) after the use of trocars with 10 mm or larger diameter. Patients treated with mesh repair had significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (32 ± 9 vs. 27 ± 4; p = 0.023) and significantly higher rates of cardiac diseases (77% vs. 39%; p = 0.026) than patients in the suture only group. Mean fascial defect size was significantly larger in the Mesh repair group than in the Suture only group (31 ± 24 mm vs. 24 ± 32 mm; p = 0.007) and mean time of operation was significantly longer in patients operated with mesh repair (83 ± 47 min vs. 40 ± 28 min; p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in mean hospital stay (3 ± 4 days; p = 0.057) and hernia recurrence rates (9%; p = 0.653) between study groups. Mean time of follow up was 32 ± 35 months.ConclusionsIn Port sites of 10 mm and larger diameter fascia should be closed by suture, whereas the risk of hernia development in 5 mm trocar placements seems to be a rare complication. Port-site incisional hernia should be treated by suture or mesh repair depending on fascial defect size and the patients' risk factors regarding preexisting deseases and body mass index.
Our results indicate that patients with colonic neoplastic lesions or diverticular disease probably form heterogeneous groups. Because current results from molecular biology emphasize the impact of the extracellular matrix on the genesis of diverticulosis and colonic cancer, the observed heterogeneity could be an expression of a distinct composition of the local milieu.
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