Long-term outcomes of open midline ventral hernia repair using a narrow well-fixed retrorectus polypropylene mesh

The ultimate measure of successful abdominal wall reconstruction is a pain-free, complication-free, and durable hernia repair. Open techniques have generally lost favor, but they still have much to offer for patients with skin deficits and excess. The long-term complication rates for open hernia repairs is unknown. Electronic medical records now provide the ability to easily follow patients who have switched medical institutions. Using this tool, we followed a cohort of abdominal wall reconstruction patients who had an early high "success" rate.

We performed a retrospective chart review of 101 patients who underwent open ventral hernia repair with a narrow well-fixed retrorectus uncoated polypropylene mesh by a single surgeon (GAD) between the years of 2010 and 2015. These patients were initially reported in a 2016 publication. Patients' post-operative follow-up by any medical provider assessing the abdominal region were studied up until August 2023. Patient demographics, operative reports, and postoperative course were re-reviewed.

A total of 101 patients underwent ventral hernia repair. Mean follow-up time was 7.68 years (range 1.8 - 13.0 years). There were no recurrent hernias across the studied time period and no instances of enterocutaneous fistulas. 15 patients (15%) had abdominal surgery after hernia repair unrelated to their original surgery and 5 patients (5%) reported chronic post-operative pain. 13 patients died in the follow-up period, all unrelated to the abdominal wall surgery.

Open well-fixed narrow retrorectus mesh hernia repairs perform well in the long-term without fistulas, extrusions, and hernia recurrence.