Patient-reported outcome measures 2 years after treatment of small ventral hernias using a monofilament polypropylene patch covered with an absorbable hydrogel barrier on its visceral side

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In spite of their wide use, clinical studies on intraperitoneal ventral patches are rare, especially for VentralexTM ST (VST), recently released. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-year results of 108 patients operated on from a ventral hernia with VST were assessed using a patient-reported outcome measures concept. RESULTS: One hundred and eight patients (59.9 ± 14.65 years; body mass index 29.72 ± 8.14; wound healing risk factor in 49 patients) were prospectively registered. Surgery was clean in 105 (97%) or clean contaminated in 3 (3%). The defect was <4 cm in diameter in 81% of primaries and <4 cm in width in 91% of incisional ventral hernias. No postoperative complication occurred except one benign subcutaneous seroma. At 2 years, 15 patients could not be reached by the independent clinical research assistant, despite five attempts at different moments, while 93 (86%) completed the phone questionnaire. None declined to answer. Only one reoperation was mentioned. Three recurrences (two not reoperated) were identified. No bowel obstruction, wound sinus, or mesh migration was identified. Only three patients had pain, mild and less bothering than their treated hernia. Compared with the preoperative quality of life, evaluated with the same questionnaire, the improvement in these 93 patients was highly statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite potential underestimation of recurrences and rare long-term complications, this study, the first one on this new patch, suggests that VST could be safe and effective in the treatment of small primary or incisional ventral hernias. However, further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

Keywords

• abdominal wall repair
• incisional ventral hernia
• late outcomes
• mesh
• patient-reported outcomes measures
• primary ventral hernia
• prosthesis