EVALUATION OF POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS AND REOPERATIONS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING OPEN UMBILICAL HERNIA REPAIR

Abstract

Abstract Background Umbilical hernia repair is a common surgical procedure. Open repair is recommended for small to medium size hernias, and use of mesh reduces recurrence. The primary aim was to evaluate the risk of postoperative complications and reoperations after emergency and elective open umbilical hernia repair, and secondly to evaluate whether complications and reoperations were associated to type of repair. Methods A single center retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing open umbilical hernia repair from October 2022 to September 2023. Data was extracted from the patient charts. Results A total of 151 had an umbilical hernia repair, 103 (68%) elective surgeries and 48 (32%) emergency surgeries. For the elective repairs, 37 (36%) got a suture- and 66 (64%) a mesh repair. There was no difference in complications, 5.4% versus 7.6%, p = 0.675. A higher percentage of emergency surgeries had the mesh placed in the onlay position 45.8% (22/48) compared to elective surgeries 30.1% (31/103), which more often received a preperitoneal mesh 34% (35/103). The overall complication rate tended to be higher for emergency repair compared with elective surgery, 6.8% and 14.6%, p = 0.124, with a tendency towards more complications with the use of mesh 12.1% (12/99) compared with suture repair 3.8% (2/52), p = 0.096. The most frequent complications were wound related (seroma, hematoma, wound infection). There were three (3%) reoperations in the elective group due to infection, and correspondingly two (4%) in the emergency group. Conclusion There is no difference in postoperative complication regarding suture or mesh repair of umbilical hernias.