Using mesh in emergency ventral hernia repairs reduces long-term recurrence rates and is safe.

• 10-year recurrence rate after emergency repair is 16.3%.
• Patients with mesh have a 13.0% recurrence rate versus 18.9% without it (hazard ratio 0.66).

Surgeons should consider consistent mesh use even in emergent cases to improve patient outcomes.

• Mesh explantation rates were similar whether enterectomy was performed or not (3.8% vs 3.2%).