Muhammad Hanif Shiwani ( Barnsley General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. )
Christopher Grant Whitfield ( Barnsley General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. )
October 2009, Volume 59, Issue 10
Editorial
Incisional hernia remains a significant complication following open surgical access to the abdomen. Reported incidence varies widely, with estimates of order 10%.1 In addition, a clinically occult population is also likely to exist, with a large interplay between the primary surgical approach and patient factors contributing to their development. Pain and limitation of daily activities are considered to be the most common indications for elective surgery.2 Symptomatic herniae impact strongly upon quality of life3 and risk the development of strangulating or obstructive complications, requiring expedient repair in a compromised patient. Elective surgical repair is not risk-free, with reported incidences of wound complications and persisting post-operative pain in up to 12% and 28% open mesh repairs respectively.4 Techniques of repair and the types and quality of biomaterials have evolved in conjunction with other aspects of hernia surgery. Simple suture repair, with a recurrence rate of up to 54% was generally supervened by the introduction of prosthetic mesh materials.5 However, recurrence persists in a significant minority. The widely practiced 'onlay' mesh technique has been associated with recurrence in up to 27%.6 Infection, (14%) and formation of seroma (28.9%) are still significant problems after open mesh repair.7,8 With an ageing population and improving survival across a spectrum of surgical interventions, this problem can only be expected to grow.
Laparoscopic repair of ventral incisional hernia is a technique in relative infancy. The evidence base lacks large, multicentre randomized control trials. However meta-analyses point towards the technique as offering improved outcome, particularly in the short term. The technique has been demonstrated to be safe in all patient groups including the elderly and obese.9,10 It may be performed under spinal anaesthetic in selected patients.11 In one meta-analysis of 8 studies comparing open and laparoscopic ventral incisional hernia repair was associated with a 50% reduction in the rate of peri-operative complications, conferring an equivalent reduction in the length of hospital stay.12 Large studies from experienced centres have demonstrated reductions in wound infection rates to as little as 1.8%.13 This has been further supported by more contemporary meta-analysis.14 Additionally, the newer technology has not proven to increase the expense of incisional hernia repair.15 Shorter in-patient stays contribute towards the cost-effectiveness to the extent that the possibility of day case abdominal incisional hernia surgery has been explored. Small feasibility studies indicate that safety and outcomes are not impaired in this setting.16
Long-term benefits remain under-investigated, particularly with reference to recurrence rates and quality of life, with maturing study groups demonstrating some degree of parity between the two techniques.14 Extended follow up will demonstrate whether true differences exist, accounting for the learning curve of surgeons and the ongoing development of designed-for-purpose laparoscopic materials and repair techniques. Current evidence then suggests that laparoscopic repair of incisional hernia will add to the armamentarium of the experienced laparoscopic surgeon, providing patient benefit without undue financial burden.
A literature search on PakMedinet, Medline, Pubmed and Google on the subject has not shown any studies published from Pakistan to date. More and more surgeons are moving over to the mesh repair of all types of external hernia including incisional hernia using laparoscopic technique. A study from India, where the demographics of patients are more or less similar, has shown this technique to be a safe option with low complication rates.17 Wound infection remains one of the most important contributing factors in the development of incisional hernia after emergency abdominal surgery and remains a significant complication after open mesh-repair of incisional hernia. Laparoscopic repair of incisional hernia offers significantly low infection rate along with other benefits of minimally invasive surgery including reduced pain and quicker recovery. Improved cosmetic and aesthetic outcome is an additional advantage in some cases, although this is not the primary indication for repair even with open technique.2 In Pakistan, open repair of incisional hernia with Mesh has become established for many years.7,8,18,19 Appropriate training and mentoring to acquire skills will develop this new technique and also will prevent untoward complications. Time has come for surgeons to consider laparoscopic approach as a valid option to offer to their patients, especially when obtaining informed consent.
References
1.Santor TA, Rosalyn JJ. Incisional Hernia. Surg Clin North Am 1993; 73: 557-70.
2.Nieuwenhuizen J, Kleinrensink GJ, Hop WC, Jeekel J, Lange JF. Indications for incisional hernia repair: an international questionnaire among hernia surgeons. Hernia 2008; 12: 223-5.
3.Mussack T, Ladurner R, Vogel T, Lienemann A, Eder-Willwohl K, Hallfeldt KK. Health-related quality-of-life changes after laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair. Surg Endosc 2006; 20: 410-3.
4.Cassar K, Munro A. Surgical treatment of incisional hernia. Br J Surg 2002; 89: 534-45.
5.Rudmik LR, Schieman C, Dixon E, Debru E. Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair: a review of the literature. Hernia 2006; 10: 110-9.
6.Read RC, Yoder G. Recent trends in the management of incisional herniation. Arch Surg 1989; 124: 485-8.
7.Javid S. Incisional Hernia-10 Years Experience. Pak J Surg 2006; 22: 146-9.
8.Zarin M, Afridi MR, Saeed T, Muqin R, Aurangzeb M, Wazir MA. Outcome of Mesh repair for incisional hernia. Pak J Med Sci 2008; 24: 213-6.
9.Lee YK, Iqbal A, Vitamvas M, McBride C, Thompson J, Oleynikov D. Is it safe to perform laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with mesh in elderly patients? Hernia 2008; 12: 239-42.
10.Tsereteli Z, Pryor BA, Heniford BT, Park A, Voeller G, Ramshaw BJ. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) in morbidly obese patients. Hernia 2008; 12: 233-8.
11.Tzovaras G, Zacharoulis D, Georgopoulou S, Pratsas K, Stamatiou G, Hatzitheofilou C. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair under spinal anaesthesia: a feasibility study. Am Surg 2008; 196: 191-4.
12. Goodney PP, Birkmeyer CM, Birkmeyer JD. Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open ventral hernia repair: a meta-analysis. Arch Surg 2002; 137: 1161-5.
13.Heniford BT, Park A, Ramshaw BJ, Voeller G. Laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias: nine years' experience with 850 consecutive hernias. Ann Surg 2003; 238: 391-9.
14.Sins PS, Tilney HS, Purkayastha S, Darzi A, Athanasiou T, Tekkis PP et al. Outcomes following laparoscopic versus open repair of incisional hernia. World J Surg 2006; 30: 2056-64.
15.Earle D, Seymour N, Fellinger E, Perez A. Laparoscopic versus open incisional hernia repair. A single institution analysis of hospital resource utilization for 884 consecutive cases. Surg Endosc 2006; 20: 71-5.
16.Engledow AH, Sengupta N, Akhras, F, Tutton M, Warren SJ. Day case laparoscopic incisional hernia repair is feasible, acceptable and cost effective. Surg Endosc 2007; 21: 84-6.
17.Shah RH, Sharma A, Khullar R, Soni V, Baijal M, Chowbey PK. Laparoscopic repair of incarcerated ventral abdominal wall hernias. Hernia 2008; 12: 457-63.
18.Ahmad M, Niaz W A, Hussain A, Saeeduddin A. Polypropylene Mesh Repair of Incisional Hernia. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2003; 13: 440-2.
19.Khan MI, Ahmed G, Malik GA, Muneer M, Rehman AU. Role of Mesh Repair in incisional hernia. Ann King Edward Med Coll 2003; 9: 266-9.
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