Peritoneal in Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair 2

Plain-language summary

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (VHR) is usually performed by reducing the contents in the hernia sac from the abdominal cavity and then covering the defect from the inside with a mesh, i.e. Intraperitoneal Onlay Mesh (IPOM). This means that the hernia sac is left in situ anterior to the mesh. This may, however, predispose for the development of fluid in the hernia sac, i.e. seroma. The risk of seroma development may be reduced if a the defect is closed before the mesh is applied. Closing the defect may, however, cause tension and pain from the abdominal wall. Instead of closing the defect, the part of the peritoneum constituting the hernia sac may be used for closing the defect. In this case, the peritoneum is dissected from the edges of the hernia sac and then used as a flap that is fixated to the edges of the hernia sac on the opposite side. In a previous study (BriClo), we compared defect closure as control group with peritoneal bridging. That study showed an increased risk for postoperative pain if the defect was closed. In order to evaluate whether peritoneal bridging reduces the seroma development following ventral hernia repair, we are undertaking a double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing no closure of the defect with peritoneal bridging. The goal is to randomize 100 patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Clinical follow-up is performed three months, six months and one year after surgery. At all occasions, the patient is requested to fill in the Ventral Hernia Pain Questionnaire (VHPQ) and an investigation is done in order to assess the presence of seromas, recurrences or other local complications. Duration until return to work is registered. One year after surgery, computer tomography is performed in order to quantify the volume of seromas.

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