Assessment of ideal ratio of mesh area to number of fixation tacks in laparoscopic ventral and incisional IPOM Plus hernia repair.

BACKGROUND

To clarify the optimum mesh-tack ratio MTR (mesh area in cm divided by the number of fixation tacks) in laparoscopic ventral and incisional hernia repair, we compared IPOM Plus procedures with more intensive mesh fixation to those with standard mesh fixation.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study, 84 patients (mean hernia width 6.6 ± 4.4 cm) intraoperatively received an intensive mesh fixation I-IPOM Plus with MTR ≤ 4:1 (e.g. ,150 cm mesh fixed by 50 tacks) and 74 patients (mean hernia width 6.7 ± 3.4 cm) received a standard mesh fixation S-IPOM Plus with MTR > 4:1 (e.g., 150 cm mesh fixed by 30 tacks) at a community hospital between 2014 and 2017. Outcomes in recurrence rates, immediate and chronic postoperative pain, as well as long-term functionality of the abdominal wall were then evaluated.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up time of 34 months, a 2.3% recurrence rate in I-IPOM Plus patients and a 13.5% recurrence rate in S-IPOM Plus patients were recorded (p = 0.018). The recurrence was associated with large hernia > 10 cm (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.4) and MTR > 5 (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-3.8) in the multivariate analysis. There was a positive correlation between immediate postoperative pain intensity measured on day 7 and number of fixation tacks placed (I-IPOM Plus: mean 4.5 ± 2.5 VAS versus S-IPOM Plus: mean 2.7 ± 2.0 VAS, p = 0.001). However, there were no outcome differences in terms of length of immediate postoperative pain experience, sick leave duration, chronic pain rate and long-term abdominal wall functionality between these two groups.

CONCLUSION

For ventral and incisional hernia patients with multiple recurrence risk factors, a mesh-tack ratio MTR ≤ 4:1 should be applied in laparoscopic IPOM Plus procedures.