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Published on: February 24, 2023
The lateral paramedian: revisiting a forgotten incision
Kenneth Hughes1, Niazy M Selim
1Department of Surgery, University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA.
Abstract:
Incisional hernia is a potential complication of all abdominal incisions and still remains a significant problem financially and medically. Presently, there is a lack of general consensus among surgeons in regard to the optimal treatment. The midline incision is the most common used abdominal incision and it carries a high incidence of incisional hernia (up to 15%). The paramedian incision was known to lead to a small incidence of incisional hernias. This discussion is meant to bring the paramedian incision back to the picture as a hope to decrease the incidence of incisional hernia.
Insights
Incisional hernias are a common surgical complication. This discussion highlights the paramedian incision as a potentially better option to reduce incisional hernia rates compared to the more common midline incision.
Area of Science:
- Surgical complications
- Abdominal surgery outcomes
- Hernia research
Background:
- Incisional hernia is a frequent complication following abdominal surgery.
- Current treatment strategies lack universal consensus.
- Midline incisions have a high incidence of incisional hernias (up to 15%).
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the paramedian incision for abdominal surgery.
- To explore the potential of the paramedian incision in reducing incisional hernia incidence.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and discussion of surgical incision techniques.
- Comparative analysis of hernia rates between midline and paramedian incisions.
Main Results:
- The paramedian incision is associated with a lower incidence of incisional hernias.
- The midline incision is linked to a significant rate of incisional hernias.
Conclusions:
- The paramedian incision warrants consideration to decrease incisional hernia rates.
- Further investigation into paramedian incision benefits is recommended for surgical practice.
