Defining surgical outcomes and quality of life in massive ventral hernia repair: an international multicenter prospective study

• Massive VHR was defined as hernia defect length or width ≥15 cm or area ≥15 cm2.
• Open and laparoscopic VHR were examined, comparing massive to regular VHR.
• Both strata found massive VHR had increased LOS and operative time.
• Massive VHR also had more hematomas, wound infections, and pneumonia
• Patients with massive VHR have decreased early postoperative QOL.

BackgroundOur goal was to set criteria for massive ventral hernia and to compare surgical outcomes and quality of life after ventral hernia repair (VHR).MethodsThe International Hernia Mesh Registry was queried for patients undergoing VHR from 2007 to 2013. Defect was categorized as massive if the width or length was greater than 15 cm or area greater than 150 cm2. Massive VHR was compared to regular VHR.ResultsA total of 878 patients underwent VHR: 436 open, 442 laparoscopic with 13 deaths (1.5%) and 45 hernia recurrences (5.1%). Of those, 158 patients (18%) met criteria for massive VHR. Massive VHR patients had longer length of stay (LOS) and operative time and more hematomas, wound infections, wound complications, and pneumonias (P < .05). On multivariate analysis, LOS was longer, and early postoperative pain and activity limitation were greater in massive VHRs (P < .01). Massive VHR in the laparoscopic approach resulted in greater long-term mesh sensation (P < .01).ConclusionsVHR in massive hernias have increased rates of complications and longer LOS.