Ventral hernia surgery in morbidly obese patients,immediate or after bariatric surgery preparation: Results of a case-matched study

Background

Obesity is a risk factor for the development of ventral hernia and increases the risk of recurrence and surgical site infection after hernia repair (HR).

Objectives

We tested the hypothesis that bariatric surgery (BS) before HR would decrease these risks in patients with morbid obesity.

Setting

University hospital, France.

Methods

We retrospectively compared 2 groups of patients with morbid obesity in a case-matched study; 1 underwent immediate HR surgery (control), and the other initially underwent BS and then HR after weight loss (case). Patients were individually matched at a 2:1 ratio according to defect size (<7 or ≥7 cm), obesity grade (<40 or ≥40 kg/m²), American Society of Anesthesiologists score, sex, smoker status, and presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Results

From 2000 to 2017, 41 patients underwent BS, in association with herniorrhaphy in 14 cases (34%). Initial body mass index was higher in the BS group (46.7 ± 6.4 versus 42.4 ± 7.2, P < .0001) but had decreased by the time of HR (34.1 ± 6.5 versus 42.3 ± 7.2, P < .0001). Prosthetic HR was performed after 21.5 months (range, 7–87); however, 7 patients did not receive HR at this time due to insufficient weight loss. Postoperative morbidity was similar in the 2 groups. Hospital stay was shorter in the BS group (6.2 ± 2.6 versus 10.7 ± 9.3 d, P?=?.002). After a median follow-up of 4.6 ± 4.1 years, the recurrence rate was lower in the BS group (2/30, 6.7%) than in the control group (12/50, 24%; P?=?.048).

Conclusion

For morbidly obese patients with ventral hernia, BS before HR surgery can decrease recurrence without increasing morbidity.