A Comparison of Open Ventral Hernia Repair Risk Stratification Systems: A Call for Consensus

Background/Objectives: Ventral hernia repair (VHR) is a common surgical intervention linked to specific surgical site complications. In such occurrences, the related morbidity is often substantial. Although known risk factors have long been recognized, their systematic inclusion in risk stratification systems lacks universal validation. This study evaluates the effectiveness and correspondence of three risk assessment tools-CeDAR, VHWG, and the modified VHWG-in predicting postoperative wound complications in VHR patients. Methods: We analyzed data from 203 patients who underwent VHR for incisional midline or lateral wall hernia across two surgical departments between 2019 and 2023. Each patient was scored using CeDAR, VHWG, and the modified VHWG systems. Outcomes were assessed based on surgical site occurrences (SSOs) such as seroma formation, wound infections, and recurrences. Results: The incidence of SSOs was 8.9%, with two recorded deaths (0.89%). CeDAR scores showed a statistically significant relationship with SSOs but failed to accurately predict complication rates across subgroups. The VHWG grading system effectively predicted higher complication rates for grades III and IV compared to grades I and II, though its modified version did not show significant predictive improvements. Secondary outcomes indicated a higher SSO rate in patients requiring posterior component separation (TAR) and those with larger hernia defects, though the differences were not statistically significant. Major preoperative risk factors, including smoking, diabetes, and obesity, did not show significant correlations with SSO rates in this study. Conclusions: Current risk estimation tools inadequately predict SSOs in VHR. Enhancing prediction accuracy will require incorporating both patient-specific and surgical factors, potentially through advanced algorithms and large-scale studies.