Outcomes of Open Complex Ventral Hernia Repairs With Retromuscular Placement of Poly-4-Hydroxybutyrate Bioabsorbable...

Purpose. Optimal technique and mesh selection still debated for complex ventral hernias. Limited data exists on bioabsorbable meshes in high-risk patients. We evaluated our experience. Methods. Retrospective review was conducted following institutional review board approval for ventral hernia repairs using a single bioabsorbable mesh between February 2014 and November 2017. Patient and hernia details characterized. Outcomes evaluated. Results. 20 ventral hernia repairs identified, 10 males, 10 females. Mean body mass index was 35 ± 7.4 kg/m², and mean age 47 ± 13 years. Comorbid conditions were diabetes 35% and hypertension 40%. Fifty-five percent had American Society of Anesthesiologist scores of 3. Hernia Characteristics: Ventral Hernia Working Group Grade 3 hernias were 80%, and remainder grade 2. Forty percent of hernias were Centers for Disease Control class III, and remainder were class I and II. The mean defect size was 533 cm² ± 500. Repair for prior open abdomens was 45%, recurrent hernias 20%, incisional 15%, incarcerated 10%, incisional with parastomal 5%, and primary ventral 5%. Concomitant bowel procedures in 8, (40%). All cases had retromuscular mesh placement (transversus abdominus release 65%, Rives-Stoppa 35%). Surgical site occurrences were 20% (surgical site infection 10%, seroma 10%). Overall hospital stay 5 ± 3 days. Ileus occurred in 20%. One postoperative death due to fatal arrhythmia. There were no recurrences with mean follow-up 21.1 months. Conclusions. Complex hernia repairs using bioabsorbable mesh were conducted in a small cohort of high-risk patients. These data demonstrate good outcomes with limited morbidity and mortality. There were no recurrences.