Hernia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hernia, including details on hiatal, inguinal, umbilical, abdominal, treatment.

A review of incisional hernia repairs: preoperative weight loss and selective use of the mesh repair.

Chan G, Chan CK

Shouldice Hospital, 7750 Bayview Avenue, Thornhill, ONT, L3T 4A3, Canada.

At the Shouldice Clinic pre-operative weight loss is used prior to incisional hernia repairs. Mesh repair is selectively used, based on specific hernia characteristics. A series of 236 patients were reviewed and followed up for 36 months. Data were available on 188 patients (80%). There were 15 recurrences (8%). The number of obese patients was reduced from 67 (35.6%) to 25 (13.3%) through the weight loss program. The hernia diameter, gastrointestinal complications, and surgical site infection were significantly related to recurrence but not the type of repair, obesity, location, or previous recurrences. The risk factors of incisional hernias include size, intestinal complications and infections. A selective use has a comparable result to the exclusive use of mesh repair. Weight reduction has yet to be shown to affect the rate of recurrence, and further prospective studies are required.

Published 11 March 2005 in Hernia, 9(1): 37-41.
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