[Incisional hernia prosthetic surgery: a prospective study comparing laparoscopic and open techniques]

Area of Science:

• Abdominal Surgery
• Surgical Innovation
• Hernia Repair

Background:

• Incisional hernia is a frequent complication of abdominal surgery, leading to significant long-term morbidity.
• Various surgical techniques exist for incisional hernia repair, with prosthetic materials improving outcomes.
• The choice of surgical technique for incisional hernia repair can be challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively compare outcomes of laparoscopic versus open incisional hernia repair.
• To evaluate early and long-term results of mesh-augmented incisional hernia repair.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of different surgical approaches for incisional hernias.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 60 patients with median incisional hernias.
• Random assignment of 30 patients to laparoscopic repair and 30 to open Rives-Stoppa repair with mesh.
• Median follow-up of 45 months to analyze outcomes and perform statistical comparisons.

Main Results:

• Laparoscopic repair demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of wound infections.
• Patients undergoing laparoscopic repair experienced shorter operative times, reduced hospitalization, and quicker return to work.
• No significant difference in recurrence rates was observed between the laparoscopic and open repair groups.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair is a safe and feasible alternative to the Rives-Stoppa technique.
• The study supports the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery for incisional hernia repair.
• Both laparoscopic and open mesh repairs yield similar long-term recurrence rates.