Open repair of incisional ventral abdominal hernias with mesh leads to long-term improvement in pain interference as measured by patient-reported outcomes

Am J Surg. 2017 Jan;213(1):58-63. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2016.05.011. Epub 2016 Jun 18.

Abstract

Background: The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System was used to evaluate the effects of open incisional ventral hernia repair on hernia-related pain.

Methods: All patients who underwent elective repair of a primary or recurrent midline incisional hernia over a 3-year period completed Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System pain surveys and rated their pain intensity on a visual analogue scale. A retrospective review of these patients was performed.

Results: Seventy-seven patients underwent midline incisional ventral hernia repair and completed preoperative and postoperative surveys. Thirty-eight patients completed surveys at least 6 months after surgery. These patients demonstrated significant improvement in pain interference postoperatively (P < .05) but not in pain behavior. Patients with higher pain intensity scores preoperatively had greater improvements in pain behavior and pain interference postoperatively.

Conclusions: Patients with incisional ventral hernias have improvement in pain interference 6 months after open surgical repair. Changes are most pronounced in patients who experience higher magnitudes of pain preoperatively.

Keywords: Hernia; Incisional; Mesh; Pain; Patient-reported outcomes; Survey.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Hernia, Ventral / complications
  • Hernia, Ventral / surgery*
  • Herniorrhaphy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain Measurement
  • Pain, Postoperative / diagnosis
  • Pain, Postoperative / epidemiology*
  • Pain, Postoperative / prevention & control
  • Patient Reported Outcome Measures
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surgical Mesh
  • Time Factors