Incisional hernia rate after open abdomen treatment with negative pressure and delayed primary fascia closure

Various techniques for delayed primary fascia closure have been published in patients treated with open abdomen (OA) and application of negative pressure, but to date, no data are available on incisional hernia (IH) rate. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to investigate the long-term outcome of this patient population with special interest in IH development.

Two hundred and nine consecutive patients, 90(43 %) female, were treated at our institution for various abdominal emergencies involving OA from June 2006 to June 2011. Mean age was 63(16-92) years. The indication was abdominal sepsis in 155(74 %) patients, ischemia in 24(12 %) and other reasons in 30(14 %). Hospital mortality was 21 %(n = 44); and planned ventral hernia was 7 %(n = 15); and mortality until follow-up was 16 %(n = 25), and 9 %(n = 13) patients were lost to follow-up, leaving 112 patients for evaluation of IH development.

The rate of IH for patients with OA and delayed primary fascia closure was overall 35 % at a median (range) follow-up time of 26(12-81) months. Mean time for development of a ventral hernia was 11 months; 21(57 %) patients underwent surgery for symptomatic hernia (2 emergency operations for incarceration). Kaplan-Meier estimate for 5 years gave a 66 % IH rate. BMI, small bowel as source of infection and rapid adsorbable interrupted suture were identified risk factors.

The rate of IH after open abdomen treatment with delayed primary fascia closure is high with a running suture with slow absorbable suture material showing the best results.