P085 CLINICAL AND LONGITUDINAL PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOMES AFTER TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS RELEASE: A SINGLE SURGEON EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Abstract Aim Posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release (TAR) is a novel complex abdominal wall repair technique that maximizes medial myofascial flap advancement in a vascularized, pre-peritoneal plane. Here, we add to a growing body of literature on this technique by assessing longitudinal clinical and patient reported outcomes (PROs) after ventral hernia repair (VHR) with TAR. Material and Methods Adult patients undergoing VHR with TAR between 10/1/2015 and 01/15/2020 by a single surgeon were retrospectively identified. Patients with parastomal hernias and <12 months of follow-up were excluded. Clinical outcomes and PROs using the Abdominal Hernia Questionnaire (AQH) and Hernia Related Quality of Life Survey (HerQLes) were assessed. Results 57 patients were included with a median age and body mass index of 60 and 30.6 kg/m2, respectively. The average hernia defect was 384 cm2 [IQR 205-471], and all patients had retro-muscular mesh placed. The most common complications were delayed healing (19.3%) and seroma (14.0%). One patient required return to the OR for management of a complication and there were no cases of mesh infection or explantation. Previous hernia repair and concurrent panniculectomy were risk factors for developing any complication (p < 0.05). One patient (1.8%) recurred at a median follow-up of 25.7 months [IQR 18.2-42.1]. Significant improvement in disease-specific PROs was observed and maintained throughout the follow-up period (pre to post p < 0.05). Conclusions Longitudinal clinical and patient-reported outcomes after VHR with TAR are limited. We conclude that TAR is a safe and efficacious adjunct in the repair of complex hernia defects.