Lack of Consensus on Quality-of-Life Assessments for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction

Surgeons employ a variety of quality-of-life instruments to track outcomes after abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR), but no universally agreed-upon tool exists. A scoping review identified six hernia-specific tools and six generic health tools used in AWR research. The most commonly used hernia-specific tools were the hernia-related quality-of-life survey and the Carolinas Comfort Scale, while the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) was the most widely utilized generic health tool. These instruments captured diverse patient outcomes ranging from abdominal wall functionality to mental health. The study suggests the need for a standardized assessment tool for AWR outcomes.