P026 PREOPERATIVE ABDOMINAL WALL RELAXATION WITH BOLULINUM TOXIN A INJECTION CAN FACILITATE SURGICAL REPAIR OF INCISIONAL HERNIAS: LONG-TERM SINGLE CENTER FOLLOW-UP OF 12 PATIENTS

Aim It was investigated how preoperative botox injection in the abdominal musculature both facilitates the surgical repair of incisional hernias and reduce the rate of hernia recurrence. Material and Methods Botulinum toxin A injections was given to 12 patients (7 female and 5 male) suffering from complex incisional wall hernia, 4 to 6 weeks preoperatively. Mean age was 54 years. 9 patients were treated by anterior and/or posterior component separation repair and 3 by Rives-Stoppa repair. By all patients the mesh could be placed in the retromuscular position. No bridging was necessary. Results After a follow-up of 3 to 4 years we examined the patients clinically and by sonography. The rate of incisional hernia recurrence was low as well as the rate of side effects like chronic pain, persisting paresthesia and mobility disorders of the abdomen. Conclusions Preoperative injection of botulinum toxin A can help to reduce the risk of further hernia recurrence after surgical repair of complex incisional hernias of the abdominal wall.

P012 RISK FACTORS FOR INCISIONAL HERNIA AND ITS RECURRENCE: OBSERVATIONAL, AMBISPECTIVE STUDY

Aims In patients with herniorrhaphy treated in a 3rd level hospital in the Southwestern of Colombia from January 2014 to March 2020, determine the frequency of incisional hernia recurrence and the risk factors related to. Materials and methods Observational, ambispective study that included patients older than 15 years with a history of incisional hernia that agreed to participate and signed a consent form. Patients with incomplete data or who underwent surgery in another institution were excluded. Follow-up appointments every 3 months were made to evaluate the incidence of hernia recurrence. Results 112 patients were included, 64.3% female with a mean age of 58.6-year-old. The frequency of recurrence was 38.4% with a mean of appearance of 22.9 months; 44.2% were repaired with only one technique and 39.5% with non-mesh. Non-use of mesh increased the risk for recurrence (RR 2.02; CI95%: 1.17-3.48). Other risk factors were urgent surgery (RR 1.82; CI95%: 1.14-2.91), defect closure with multifilament suture (RR 1.61; CI95%: 1.15-2.25), not do adhesiolysis (RR 3.17; CI 95%; 0.85 – 11.76) and the no use of postoperative antibiotics (RR 1.67M CI95%: 0.97-2.89). Conclusions Incisional hernia recurrences increase with time. Therefore, a follow-up of at least for 3 years should be guaranteed to avoid undiagnosed cases. Risk factors identified like absorbable multifilament sutures and non-use of the mesh must be removed from the surgery plans. Furthermore, a specialized in-hospital group of the abdominal wall and an institutional protocol would help to diminish this complication.

Results of a Prospective Cohort Study on Open Rives Technique of the Midline Incisional Hernia: Midline Closure and Mesh Overlap

Background. Rives repair has been traditionally used for large abdominal wall defects with good results on terms of recurrence. However, it is limited by the lateral border of the posterior rectus sheath. The objective of our study was to evaluate recurrence rate, midline closure and mesh overlap in patients operated on elective midline incisional hernia by open Rives retromuscular repair. Methods. This is a prospective observational study of 83 patients who underwent elective open Rives technique between January 2014 and December 2018. Main inclusion criteria were adults with a midline incisional hernia. Recurrence, midline closure and mesh overlap were determined. Results. At a median postoperative follow-up of 32 (5-59) months, 8 cases of recurrence were reported. Patients with recurrence had wider hernia defects (101 ± 52 mm vs 66 ± 36 mm, P = .014) and were repaired with wider meshes (191 ± 93 mm vs 137 ± 68 mm, P = .042). However, although it was not statistically significant, midline closure was lower (38% vs 59%), as well as the overlapping relationship between mesh area and hernia defect area (2.937:1 vs 3.732:1) on patients that developed a recurrence. Conclusions. Rives technique provides good mid-term results in a midline incisional hernia (10% of recurrence at 36 months), including wider hernias in the recurrent cohort. The authors believe that other techniques which allow midline closure and placement of bigger meshes should be considered, especially in those hernias classified as W3 on EuraHS classification (more than 10 cm on width size).

Modified Peritoneal Flap Hernioplasty Versus Retromuscular Technique for Incisional Hernia Repair: a Retrospective Cohort Study

Background and Aims: We present an open retromuscular mesh technique for incisional hernia repair, the modified peritoneal flap hernioplasty, where the fascia is sutured to the mesh and the hernia sac utilized for anterior mesh coverage. The aim was to describe the modified peritoneal flap hernioplasty technique and to compare it to a retromuscular repair, without component separation, regarding short-term complications, patient satisfaction, abdominal wall complaints, and recurrent incisional hernia. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients operated electively with modified peritoneal flap hernioplasty technique (December 2012–December 2015) or retromuscular technique (Jan 2011–Oct 2014) were included in a retrospective single-center cohort study. Outcomes were evaluated from the Swedish Ventral Hernia Registry, by chart review, physical examination, and an abdominal wall complaints questionnaire. Results: The modified peritoneal flap hernioplasty group ( n = 78) had larger hernias (mean width 10.4 vs 8.5 cm, p = 0.005), more advanced Centers for Disease Control classification ( p = 0.009), and more simultaneous gastrointestinal-tract surgery (23.1% vs 11.5%, p = 0.041) than the retromuscular group ( n = 96). No difference in short-term complications was seen. Incisional hernia recurrence was lower in the modified peritoneal flap hernioplasty group (1.4% vs 10.3%, p = 0.023), and patients were more satisfied (93.8% vs 81.7%, p = 0.032). Follow-up time was shorter in the modified peritoneal flap hernioplasty group (614 vs 1171 days, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This retrospective study showed similar rates of short-term complications, despite more complex hernias in the modified peritoneal flap hernioplasty group. Furthermore, a lower incisional hernia recurrence rate for the modified peritoneal flap hernioplasty technique compared with the retromuscular technique used in our department was found. If this holds true with equally long follow-up remains to be proven.

Incisional Hernia Involving the Neobladder: Technical Considerations to Avoid Complications

The management of incisional hernia following radical cystectomy (RC) and neobladder diversion poses a special challenge. Mesh erosion into the neobladder is a potential complication of hernia repair in this setting. We describe our experience and steps to avoid this complication. Three patients developed incisional hernias following RC involving the neobladder. The incisional hernias were repaired by the same surgeon. A systematic dissection and repair of the hernias with an onlay dual-layer mesh (made of polyglactin and polypropylene) was carried out. The critical steps were placing the polyglactin side of the mesh deeper and positioning of an omental flap anterior to the neobladder. The omental flap adds a protective layer that prevents adhesions between the neobladder and abdominal wall, and prevents erosion of the mesh into the fragile neobladder wall. All of these patients had received two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to RC. The time duration from RC to the repair of hernia was 7, 42, and 54 months. No intraoperative injury to the neobladder or other complication was noted during hernia repair. The patients were followed after hernia repair for 20, 22, and 42 months with no recurrence, mesh erosion, or other complications. Careful understanding and attention to details of the technique can minimize the risk of complications, especially incisional hernia recurrence, injury to the neobladder, and erosion of mesh into the neobladder wall.