Laparoscopic versus open incisional hernia repair: comparative non-randomized study

Abstract

Background: One of the most common complications of laparotomy is Incisional hernia, with an estimated incidence of 3-20%. The objective of this study was to compare the outcome of patients after laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair.Methods: This was a prospective observational comparative study, in Sohag University Hospital, Sohag, Egypt. All adult patients who fulfilled our inclusion criteria underwent laparoscopic or open incisional hernia repair from September 2013 to September 2016 were included in the study. Primary outcome measure of this study was recurrence rate, wound infection. And secondary outcome measure of this study was operative time, postoperative complications and hospital stay.Results: Between September 2013 and September 2016, 60 patients with incisional hernia had fulfilled our inclusion criteria were operated at the general surgery department at Sohag university hospitals, Sohag, Egypt. 31 patients had open incisional hernia repair and 29 had laparoscopic incisional hernia repair. The mean age for laparoscopic repair group was 45.69±7.66 years and for open repair group was46.94±8.08 years p value 0.543. In laparoscopic group male to female ratio 20/9 was while in open group it was16/15 p value 0.197.the mean body mass index for laparoscopic group was29.83±3.56kg/m2 and for open group30.00±3.32kg/m2 p value= 0.873. the most significant finding was hospital stay which was significantly shorter in laparoscopic incisional hernia repair group p value was 0.000 as well as wound infections were significantly lower in laparoscopic incisional hernia repair group p value was 0.05. there was no significant difference between both groups as regard operative time, bowel injury intraoperative complication postoperative complications as well as recurrence rate. The mean follows uptime was 27.24±3.04 months for laparoscopic incisional hernia group and 27.12±3.06 months for open group.Conclusions: Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair is a safe alternative to laparoscopic incisional hernia repair with a shorter hospital stay and a lower wound complication.