Chemotherapy does not adversely impact outcome following post-incisional hernia repair with biomaterial mesh

An obstetrician-gynecologist's review of hernias: risk factors, diagnosis, prevention, and repair

Management of obstetrical and gynecologic patients with hernias poses challenges to providers. Risks for hernia development include well-described factors that impair surgical wound healing and increase abdominal pressure. Among the diverse populations cared for by obstetricians and gynecologists, pregnant patients and those with gynecologic malignancies are at the highest risk for hernia formation. This article provides an overview of the existing literature, with a focus on patients cared for by obstetrician-gynecologists and commonly encountered preoperative and intraoperative scenarios. We highlight scenarios when a hernia repair is not commonly performed, including those of patients undergoing nonelective surgeries with known or suspected gynecologic cancers. Finally, we offer multidisciplinary recommendations on the timing of elective hernia repair with obstetrical and gynecologic procedures, with attention to the primary surgical procedure, the type of preexisting hernia, and patient characteristics.

Is There Indication for the Use of Biological Mesh in Cancer Patients?

Up to 28% of all patients who undergo open surgery will develop a ventral hernia (VH) in the post-operative period. VH surgery is a debated topic in the literature, especially in oncological patients due to complex management. We searched in the surgical database of the Hepatobiliary Unit of the National Cancer Institute of Naples “G. Pascale Foundation” for all patients who underwent abdominal surgery for malignancy from January 2010 to December 2018. Our surgical approach and our choice of mesh for VH repair was planned case-by-case. We selected 57 patients that fulfilled our inclusion criteria, and we divided them into two groups: biological versus synthetic prosthesis. Anterior component separation was used in 31 patients (54.4%) vs. bridging procedure in 26 (45.6%). In 41 cases (71.9%), we used a biological mesh while a synthetic one was adopted in the remaining patients. Of our patients, 57% were male (33 male vs. 24 female) with a median age of 65 and a mean BMI of 30.8. We collected ventral hernia defects from 35 cm² to 600 cm² (mean 205.2 cm²); 30-day complications were present in 24 patients (42.1%), no 30-day mortality was reported, and 21 patients had a recurrence of pathology during study follow-up. This study confirms VH recurrence risk is not related with the type of mesh but is strongly related with BMI and type of surgery also in oncological patients.

National trends in ventral hernia repairs for patients with intra-abdominal metastases

BACKGROUND

Ventral hernias in patients with intra-abdominal metastases may not be addressed owing to other oncologic priorities, but they can affect quality of life and lead to sequelae necessitating an emergency operation. We compared the national trends and perioperative outcomes for elective and nonelective ventral hernia repairs for patients with intra-abdominal metastases.

METHODS

Patients were identified from the National Inpatient Sample (2003-2015). Temporal trends were described using average annual percent change. Perioperative outcomes between elective and nonelective ventral hernia repairs were compared using multivariable regressions.

RESULTS

An estimated 947,112 ventral hernia repairs were performed nationally, including 5,602 (0.6%) in patients with intra-abdominal metastases. Among patients with intra-abdominal metastases, 40.1% had a nonelective ventral hernia repair, mean (standard deviation) age was 64 (12) years, and 65.1% were women. Between 2003 and 2015, the total number of ventral hernia repairs performed nationally did not change (average annual percent change 0.062, P = .84). For patients with intra-abdominal metastases, although there was no change in the number of elective ventral hernia repairs (average annual percent change 0.65, P = .59), the number of nonelective ventral hernia repairs increased significantly (average annual percent change 2.7, P = .025). By multivariable analyses, patients with intra-abdominal metastases who underwent a nonelective repair were more likely to experience complications (odds ratio 1.76, P = .001), nonroutine discharge (odds ratio 1.93, P < .001), and mortality (odds ratio 2.27, P = .035). Nonelective ventral hernia repairs was also associated with a 38.5% (P < .001) longer hospital stay and 24.4% (P < .001) higher charges.

CONCLUSION

The number of nonelective ventral hernia repairs, which is associated with substantial perioperative morbidity, has increased significantly among patients with intra-abdominal metastases. Surgeons should consider a nonemergency operation for select patients to mitigate the burden of nonelective ventral hernia repairs.

Incisional Hernias After Major Abdominal Operations: Analysis Within a Large Health Care System

BACKGROUND

This will be the largest multi-institutional study looking at incidence of and duration to symptomatic hernia formation for major abdominal operations separated by malignant and benign disease process.

METHODS

An IRB-approved retrospective study within the MedStar Hospital database was conducted, incorporating all isolated colectomy, hepatectomy, pancreatectomy, and gastrectomy procedures between the years 2002 and 2016. All patients were identified using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes for relevant procedures, and then separated based on malignant or benign etiology. The rate of symptomatic incisional hernia rates was determined for each cohort based on subsequent hernia procedural codes identified.

RESULTS

During this 15-year span, a total of 6448 major abdominal operations were performed at all 10 institutions, comprising 3835 colectomies, 1122 hepatectomies, 1165 pancreatectomies, and 326 gastrectomies. Total incidence of symptomatic incisional hernia occurrence requiring repair was 325 (5.0%). Separated by group, the overall incisional hernia repair rates for patients undergoing colectomy, hepatectomy, pancreatectomy, and gastrectomy are as follows, respectively: 6.4% (247), 2.5% (28), 3.6% (42), and 2.8% (9), P < 0.0001. The subsequent median duration to hernia repair was 498 d (interquartile range [IQR]: 312-924) for colectomy, 421 d (IQR: 340-518) for hepatectomy, 378 d (IQR: 284-527) for pancreatectomy, and 630 d (IQR: 419-1204) for gastrectomy (P = 0.03401).

CONCLUSIONS

Symptomatic incisional hernia repair rates after major gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery range from 2.1% to 6.4%. There was no significant increase in hernia rates in patients undergoing surgery for malignancy.

Hernia and Cancer: The Points Where the Roads Intersect

Introduction: This review aimed to present common points, intersections, and potential interactions or mutual effects for hernia and cancer. Besides direct relationships, indirect connections, and possible involvements were searched. Materials and Methods: A literature search of PubMed database was performed in July 2018 as well as a search of relevant journals and reference lists. The total number of screened articles was 1,422. Some articles were found in multiple different searches. A last PubMed search was performed during manuscript writing in December 2018 to update the knowledge. Eventually 427 articles with full text were evaluated, and 264 included, in this review. Results: There is no real evidence for a possible common etiology for abdominal wall hernias and any cancer type. The two different diseases had been found to have some common points in the studies on genes, integrins, and biomarkers, however, to date no meaningful relationship has been identified between these points. There is also some, albeit rather conflicting, evidence for inguinal hernia being a possible risk factor for testicular cancer. Neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapeutic modalities like chemotherapy and radiotherapy may cause postoperative herniation with their adverse effects on tissue repair. Certain specific substances like bevacizumab may cause more serious complications and interfere with hernia repair. There are only two articles in PubMed directly related to the topic of "hernia and cancer." In one of these the authors claimed that there was no association between cancer development and hernia repair with mesh. The other article reported two cases of squamous-cell carcinoma developed secondary to longstanding mesh infections. Conclusion: As expected, the relationship between abdominal wall hernias and cancer is weak. Hernia repair with mesh does not cause cancer, there is only one case report on cancer development following a longstanding prosthetic material infections. However, there are some intersection points between these two disease groups which are worthy of research in the future.

Post-incisional ventral hernia repair in patients undergoing chemotherapy: improving outcomes with biological mesh

Background

Patients requiring ventral hernia (VH) repair during perioperative chemotherapy have a higher risk for post-operative complications. The aim of the study was to perform a case-controlled analysis in patients undergoing chemotherapy who underwent VH repair using biological mesh or synthetic mesh.

Methods

From January 2013 to December 2015, 32 patients, within 8 weeks from chemotherapy administration, were treated electively for VH repair using a biological mesh (BIOMESH). A control group (CG) receiving chemotherapy within the same time interval and treated with synthetic meshes was selected. There were no differences regarding sex, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score III, BMI, and size of the defect. Morbidity, type of complications, and recurrence rate were investigated and compared between the two groups.

Results

In the BIOMESH group, eight patients (25 %) experienced complications. Wound dehiscence occurred in four (12.5 %) patients and was treated conservatively. Only three small seromas not requiring treatment were observed. The CG presented a higher mean Clavien-Dindo complication grade (1.94 ± 0.44 vs 1.63 ± 0.52; p = 0.13) and a higher incidence of wound dehiscence (n = 9/32, 28.1 % vs n = 4/32, 12.5 %; p = 0.11). Five patients developed seroma treated by wound drainage. One patient experienced an intra-abdominal collection treated by percutaneous drainage. At the univariate and multivariate analysis use of traditional mesh, BMI and the ASA III were predictive factors of post-operative complications. Two patients (6.3 %) developed a VH recurrence only in the CG.

Conclusions

Biological meshes could be considered a valid option to improve post-operative short-term outcomes in selected high-risk patients undergoing chemotherapy treated for VH repair.