Laparoscopic Versus Open Incisional Hernia Repair: Long-Term Follow-up Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Long-term extension of a previous randomized controlled clinical trial comparing open (OVHR) vs. laparoscopic (LVHR) ventral hernia repair, assessing recurrence, reoperation, mesh-related complications and self-reported quality of life with 10 years of follow-up.

Eighty-five patients were followed up to assess recurrence (main endpoint), reoperation, mesh complications and death, from the date of index until recurrence, death or study completion, whichever was first. Recurrence, reoperation rates and death were estimated by intention to treat. Mesh-related complications were only assessed in the LVHR group, excluding conversions (intraperitoneal onlay; n = 40). Quality of life, using the European Hernia Society Quality of Life score, was assessed in surviving non-reoperated patients (n = 47).

The incidence rates with 10 person-years of follow-up were 21.01% (CI 13.24-33.36) for recurrence, 11.92% (CI: 6.60-21.53) for reoperation and 24.88% (CI 16.81-36.82) for death. Sixty-two percent of recurrences occurred within the first 2 years of follow-up. No significant differences between arms were found in any of the outcomes analyzed. Incidence rate of intraperitoneal mesh complications with 10 person-years of follow-up was 6.15% (CI 1.99-19.09). The mean EuraHS-QoL score with 13.8 years of mean follow-up for living non-reoperated patients was 6.63 (CI 4.50-8.78) over 90 possible points with no significant differences between arms.

In incisional ventral hernias with wall defects up to 15 cm wide, laparoscopic repair seems to be as safe and effective as open techniques, with no long-term differences in recurrence and reoperation rates or global quality of life, although lack of statistical power does not allow definitive conclusions on equivalence between alternatives.

ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT04192838).