Component separation repair of incisional hernia: evolution of practice and review of long-term outcomes in a single center

• Published in: Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery 2024-04, Vol.28 (2), p.465-474
• Main Authors: Odogwu, S. O., Magsi, A. M., Spurring, E., Malik, M., Kadir, B., Cutler, K., Abdelrahman, S., Prescornita, C., Li, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdominal Muscles - surgery; Abdominal Surgery; Abdominal wall; Abdominal Wall - surgery; Hernia; Hernia, Ventral - surgery; Hernias; Herniorrhaphy - adverse effects; Herniorrhaphy - methods; Humans; Incisional Hernia - surgery; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Morbidity; Original Article; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Surgical Mesh; Wound infection
• ISSN: 1248-9204; 1265-4906; 1248-9204
• DOI: 10.1007/s10029-023-02932-7

Purpose To review the long-term outcomes of complex abdominal wall reconstruction using anterior and posterior component separation (CS) techniques in our center. Methods This was a descriptive analytical study. Analysis of data from a prospectively collected database of patients who had undergone Component Separation (CS) repair of incisional hernias was performed. Two techniques were used. Anterior component separation (ACS) and posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release (PCS/TAR). Follow-up was clinical review at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months with direct access telephone review thereafter. Long-term outcome data was obtained from electronic records and based on either clinical or CT assessment. Minimum physical follow-up was 6 months for all patients. Results 89 patients with large incisional hernias underwent CS repair. 29 patients had ACS while 60 underwent PCS/TAR. Mean follow-up was 60 months (range 6–140 months) in the ACS group and 20 months (range 6–72 months) in the PCS group. Twenty-five patients (28%) had simultaneous major procedures including 21 intestinal anastomoses. Twenty-six (29%) of patients had associated stomas. Twenty-seven (30.3%) of the patients had undergone previous hernia repairs. Seromas occurred in 24 (26.97%) patients. Wound infections were more common after ACS. There have been 10 (11.2%) recurrences to date. Conclusion Component separation repair techniques result in good long-term outcomes with acceptable complication rates. They can be performed simultaneously with gastrointestinal procedures with low morbidity. Appropriate patient selection and use of appropriate mesh are important.