Prophylactic Mesh Reduces Incisional Hernias in Hepatobiliary Surgery
Placing prophylactic synthetic mesh during abdominal closure significantly lowers incisional hernia rates after hepatobiliopancreatic surgery.
At 12 months, incisional hernia rates were 5.2% in the mesh group vs. 21% in the non-mesh group (p<0.01).
At 24 months, hernia rates were 8.1% in the mesh group vs. 37.5% in the non-mesh group (p<0.001).
Patients receiving mesh also showed improved functional recovery without increased complications. This data suggests that surgeons may consider prophylactic mesh in high-risk patients undergoing subcostal incisions to mitigate hernia formation.
After elective incisional hernia repair, patients with onlay mesh more often felt a foreign body than those with retromuscular mesh; other reported outcomes were similar.
After ventral hernia repair, patients from more socially vulnerable communities had more wound complications, though differences between vulnerability groups were small.
