Published online Dec 28, 2023. doi: 10.5412/wjsp.v13.i3.14
Peer-review started: September 23, 2023
First decision: November 1, 2023
Revised: November 18, 2023
Accepted: December 19, 2023
Article in press: December 19, 2023
Published online: December 28, 2023
Processing time: 94 Days and 5.5 Hours
This study examined the use of a novel procedure to repair ventral hernias without the use of prosthetic mesh. This is a newly described technique.
Mesh utilization for ventral hernia repair may potentially lead to mesh infections, adhesions, seromas, fistula formation and postoperative pain. If the modified Rectus Muscle Repair technique is shown to be effective and safe, then it may lead to the omission of mesh in patients with ventral hernias.
The objective of this study was to examine the short term outcomes of all consecutive patients with ventral abdominal wall hernias > 5 cm in maximal diameter who underwent repair using the modified rectus muscle repair (RMR) technique in a single surgeon unit.
A 5-year prospective study was undertaken to examine the outcome of all consecutive hernia repairs using the modified RMR technique. Patients were reviewed in an outpatient clinic at 3, 6 and 12 mo and evaluated for hernia recurrence on clinical examination. Each patient’s abdominal wall was also assessed with using ultrasonography at 24 mo to detect recurrences. All data were examined with SPSS ver 18.0.
There were 52 patients treated for ventral hernias, and 4 were excluded, leaving 48 in the final study sample, at a mean age of 56 years (range 28-80). The mean maximal diameter of the hernia defect was 7 cm (range 5-12 cm). There were 5 (10.4%) seromas and 1 recurrence (2.1%) at a mean of 36 mo follow-up.
This study proposes that the modified RMR can be used as an acceptable alternative to mesh repair of ventral hernias. The new method that this study suggests is the routine use of drains to reduce seroma rates
Further study of larger case series is warranted since this early research shows encouraging results.