Epidemiology and cost of ventral hernia repair: making the case for hernia research

Abstract

VHRs continue to rise in incidence and cost. By reducing recurrence rate alone, a cost saving of US $32 million dollars for each 1% reduction in operations would result. Further research is necessary for improved understanding of ventral hernia etiology and treatment and is critical to cost effective healthcare.

External Validation of the Ventral Hernia Risk Score for Prediction of Surgical Site Infections

“…V entral hernia repairs are among the most common general surgery procedures, with more than 365,000 performed in the United States each year [1]. Complications, particularly surgical site infections (SSIs), are common after a repair.…”

“…Complications, particularly surgical site infections (SSIs), are common after a repair. Surgical site infections are not only associated with a host of other complications, such as recurrence and need for re-operation, but also significantly increase costs [1,2].…”

Effects of platelet rich plasma on fascial healing in rats with fecal peritonitis

“…Greater problem is the 30-60 % recurrence rate after hernia repair 2 . Despite advance research and prosthesis materials in repair strategies, techniques, and technologies, recurrent herniation continues to be a major issue on patients and the healthcare system 3 .The biggest reason is that they have complications and are the disadvantages of this prosthesis material 4 . Some of these are mesh infection, contraction, erosion, extrusion, and fistula formation.…”

Abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR): the need to identify the hospital units and referral centers entitled to perform it

“…In USA this number is expected to increase of 11,000 procedures each year in the near future. Taking into account the number of repairs performed in 2006, the total estimated procedural cost for AWR was US $3.2 billion [4]. We personally calculated that 40,000 AWRs (ICD-9 procedural code 53.51, 53.61, 53.59, 53.69) were performed in Italy in 2014 with an estimated cost of 200 million euro, without taking in account economic costs to society including time lost for work and chronic disability (associated with hernias).…”

“…Moreover, other complications, such as surgical site occurrence (SSO), mainly the surgical site infection (SSI), length of hospital stay and quality of life should be taken in account. The cost for an outpatient AWR rises from US $16,000 to 65,000 and 82,000, in cases of SSI and mesh infection, respectively [4,7,8].…”