Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with human acellular dermal matrix patch: our initial experience

The laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernia followed by an antireflux procedure is currently the gold standard therapy for gastroesophgeal reflux disease. However, it is recognized that recurrent hiatal herniation and wrap migration are major sources of operative failures in these patients. Some have described a reduction of such events with the placement of nonbiodegradable prosthetic patches over the primary cruroplasty. This prosthetic material may be associated with transesophageal and gastric erosions and a higher rate of postoperative dysphagia and chest pain when compared with simple suture cruroplasty alone. The aim of this study is to compare hiatal closure with a biodegradable patch (acellular dermal matrix) and simple suture curaplasty in patients undergoing laparoscopic antireflux surgery.

A total of 44 patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. Twenty-two consecutive patients undergoing large hiatal hernia repair (>5 cm) and fundoplication with primary suture cruroplasty only (group 1) were compared with 22 consecutive patients undergoing the same procedure with suture cruroplasty reinforced with an onlay acellular dermal matrix patch (group 2). The 2 groups were compared with regards to demographics, size of the hiatal hernia, pre- and postoperative symptom scores, pH studies, operative times, and hiatal hernia recurrence.

Patients in both groups were well matched by age, weight, height, and size of hiatal hernia. There were similar preoperative values in esophageal manometry, 24-hour pH monitoring, and symptom scoring in both groups. Average operative time was 108 minutes in group 1 and 121 minutes in group 2. There were no major complications in either group. The median period of hospitalization was 1 day in both groups. Postoperative pH studies and symptoms score data were significantly improved in both groups. There was no significant difference in postoperative symptoms scores for dysphagia between the 2 groups. Two patients (one in each group) underwent esophageal dilatation for mild dysphagia postoperatively. In group 1, 2 patients (9%) had Nissen failure with hiatal hernia recurrences 6 months after surgery. There were no recurrences for the follow-up period in group 2.

Our early results suggest that hiatal hernia repair reinforced with an acellular dermal matrix patch may reduce the incidence of recurrent herniation and wrap migration. In addition, the increase in postoperative dysphagia, chest pain, and esophageal erosions associated with nondegradable mesh has not been observed in those with an acellular dermal matrix patch to this point in our follow up. However, future investigation of the material for this particular application as well as longer follow-up is necessary.