Outcomes on 287 Patients with Complex Abdominal Wall Defects Undergoing Abdominal Wall Reconstruction with a...

Complex abdominal wall defects (CAWD) requiring complex abdominal wall reconstruction (CAWR) represent an important surgical challenge in the presence of significant comorbidities. We aimed to report the results on a large patient cohort and identify independent outcome predictors.

All patients who underwent CAWR with biologic mesh (Strattice™; Reconstructive Tissue Matrix ®, a porcine-derived acellular dermal matrix; Allergan plc, Branchburg, New Jersey) between July 2016 and November 2021 at the tertiary academic center were studied using univariable and multivariable regressions.

During the study period, 287 patients that underwent CAWR emergently and electively were included. The mean age was 59.1±13.4 years, 45.3% were female, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 32.4±8.3 kg/m2. Elderly patients (≥65 years) represented 35.5%, and 36.6% of patients were operated for recurrent incisional/ ventral hernia. Mean hospital length of stay was 17.7±22.4 days. During the median follow up of two years, the hernia recurrence rate was 3.5%, similar to deaths within 90 days that occurred in 3.5% patients. The most frequent specific adverse outcomes were surgical site infection (22.6%), reoperation (20.9%), seroma (10.1%) and wound necrosis (9.4%). On multivariable regression, the most consistent independent predictors of adverse outcomes were emergency operation requiring damage control laparotomy, extensive lysis of adhesions, obesity, contaminated The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wound class, loss of abdominal domain, and delayed wound closure.

Overall, most patients undergoing CAWR electively or in emergency settings have excellent outcomes with a recurrence rate of 3.5% at two years. High-risk patients for recurrence and mortality are those requiring damage control laparotomy (DCL) during the index emergency operation, fistula take-down, intestinal resection, patient undergoing extensive lysis of adhesions and have a BMI >35kg/m2. Furthermore, patients who have a CDC wound class of III/IV have higher rates of perioperative complications, including the need for reoperation and increased hospital length of stay.