Simultaneous incisional hernia repair and colorectal surgery: one or two-step procedure?

Incisional hernia has been described in 12.8% of patients after abdominal surgery, although some risk factors can increase that percentage and aggravate the described recurrence rates of 23–50% after hernia repair [1]. Some patients who require colorectal surgery present with a concomitant incisional hernia, but it is not clear whether the repair should be performed via a single approach or a two-step procedure, although mesh can be safely used in clean-contaminated environments [2‐4].

Some authors have suggested that performing these concomitant procedures is safe [5‐7], but others have described a greater risk of complications [8‐11]. The advantages of a single operation include cost-effectiveness, the avoidance of comorbidities from two separate surgeries and patient satisfaction. However, there are concerns regarding mesh infection and recurrence risk, especially in complex abdominal wall repairs or demanding colorectal surgery.

Since the literature is scarce and controlled trials are difficult to perform due to the heterogeneity of hernias and colorectal procedures, available data from registries are vital [9, 10]. These data represent “real-world evidence”, the daily clinical practice in the general population and can be instruments of quality control and constructive feedback for surgeons or health-care systems, as well as revealing surgical tendencies and providing long-term information about issues rarely observed in controlled trials, especially for infrequent variables or outcomes [12‐14].

Our aim was to evaluate the rates of complications and recurrence after concomitant abdominal wall repair and colorectal surgery compared to those after incisional hernia repair only according to data from the EVEREG registry.

The EVEREG database (http://​www.​evereg.​es/​) includes nearly 200 Spanish hospitals. The incisional hernia registry is anonymous and is maintained by surgeons who are interested in abdominal wall surgery. This online national prospective audited register collects data on patient and hernia characteristics, and information about surgery, postoperative complications and follow-up [15, 16].

Adult patients (≥ 18 years old) who underwent elective incisional hernia surgery from the EVEREG registry between July 2012 and January 2022 were included. Patients who underwent midline incisional hernia repair as a single procedure and patients who underwent midline incisional hernia repair concomitant with surgery involving the colon or rectum were included. Colorectal procedures include colectomies for benign or malignant disease and stoma reversal.

Patients who underwent different gastrointestinal procedures, different types of hernias rather than midline hernias, emergency surgeries or other clean-contaminated, contaminated or dirty hernia repairs were excluded.

Patient demographic data (sex, age, body mass index (BMI)) and comorbidities (diabetes status, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoking status and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)) were collected.

Hernia characteristics including the transverse diameter of the defect and the European Hernia Society classification [17] were registered, as well as wound contamination according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [18, 19] or recurrent hernia. Hernia type according to the European Hernia Society (EHS) classification was grouped as supraumbilical (types M1 and M2), umbilical (M3), infraumbilical (M4 and M5) or combined if more than one was present. Hernias meeting the criteria established by Slater et al. [20] were considered complex.

Data from surgeries such as surgical approach, surgical technique, component separation (CS), and the number and position of mesh used, were recorded. Information about additional procedures performed and the presence of a surgeon with experience in abdominal wall surgery was collected. Information about postoperative complications, recurrence, mortality, hospital stay and length of follow-up was collected. Clavien–Dindo classification [21] degrees were grouped as mild (I-II) or severe (III-V).

This cohort study was conducted in accordance with the STROBE and RECORD statement [22, 23]. The primary outcome was surgical site infection (SSI). The secondary outcomes were the Clavien–Dindo grade, mortality during hospital admission and recurrence at the maximum follow-up.

A subgroup analysis was conducted on patients who underwent surgery at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital by a certified colorectal surgeon and a certified abdominal wall surgeon.

A total of 7783 patients were included; 256(3.3%) who underwent concomitant surgery of the abdominal wall and the colon or rectum, and 7527(96.7%) who underwent midline incisional hernia repair via a single procedure.

The demographic and hernia characteristics of the population are described in Table 1. A greater proportion of men, older patients, COPD patients and patients with higher ASA scores were found in the concomitant colorectal surgery group. A higher proportion of multiple midline defects and a wider transverse diameter of the hernia defect were found in this group.

The surgical and follow-up characteristics are shown in Table 2. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) was more frequent in patients who underwent a single procedure. The presence of a surgeon with experience in abdominal wall repairs and CS techniques were more common in the concomitant procedures group. Anterior CS was predominant in the colorectal group (64.4%). Hernia repair and stoma reversal were performed in 105 patients (41%).

According to the CDC classification, clean surgery was most common in the hernia repair group, and the use of combined meshes was more common in the colorectal group, which included more biosynthetic meshes (Table 2). Supraponeurotic and retromuscular repairs were predominant in the colorectal group while preperitoneal and intraperitoneal prostheses were mostly found in the other group. Additional procedures (cholecystectomy, dermolipectomy, parastomal hernia repair, mesh excision, extended adhesiolysis, ostomy creation or gynecological interventions) were performed in 31.3% of patients from the concomitant colorectal surgery group.

SSI was more frequent in the concomitant colorectal surgery group (P < 0.001). No differences were found in terms of superficial, deep or organ-space infection between groups. Regarding the Clavien–Dindo classification, higher grades were found in the group that underwent colorectal surgery. Postoperative mortality was greater in this group, although scarce data are available (Table 2).

Concomitant abdominal wall and colorectal surgery is a controversial therapeutic strategy with conflicting evidence [5, 6, 8‐10, 24]. This procedure allows comprehensive treatment of two pathologies in a single procedure; it can be cost-effective and improve patient satisfaction by reducing the risks of two separate surgeries [5‐7]. Nevertheless, concerns regarding this procedure include surgical complexity, infection risk, postoperative complications (including anastomotic leakage), mortality and hernia recurrence [8‐11]. However, when opting for two separate procedures, various reasons might lead to the second surgery never taking place, and the patient ends up living with an incapacitating hernia or requiring an emergent operation [5]. The decision to choose a concomitant procedure rather than just a “single-step” intervention could depend on the individual complexity of the patient (i.e., comorbidities), the hernia (i.e., technical complexity) or the visceral surgery itself (i.e., colorectal).

Current evidence is based on observational studies (retrospective) with heterogeneous groups and a limited number of patients, some of whom reported a foreseeable higher complication rate for comorbid patients [8] and no data about potentially relevant outcomes, such as mesh explants. Colorectal and abdominal wall procedures are heterogeneous, thus, some studies include different visceral resections (i.e. rectum or colon) [10], stoma reversal [8], parastomal hernias, or complex abdominal wall repairs [24], diversifying the surgical techniques and diluting the applicability of the results. The use of MIS (classical laparoscopic approach, robotic platforms or hybrid procedures), which can reduce the incidence of SSI, remains to be explored.

Our study revealed worse outcomes for concomitant procedures. However, this group included more patients with comorbidities and complex hernias, which are well-recognized risk factors for complications after hernia and colorectal surgery [25‐28]. Additional procedures and wider defects were observed in the colorectal surgery group, which could be associated with more symptomatic hernias forcing its repair, or it might interfere with the colorectal surgery; this could also explain the presence of an experienced abdominal wall surgeon performing demanding techniques, mainly in complex cases. Despite concomitant procedures, no differences were observed in terms of recurrence, and simultaneous stoma reversal presented comparable outcomes.

Moreover, simultaneous procedures were associated with increased rates of SSI, which was correlated with the CDC classification of surgery and patient risk factors. Even in clean-contaminated or selected contaminated environments, the use of a mesh has been proven to be safe and effective [2, 3, 29], and selected mesh types could better tolerate an infection without the need for explants [30]. Nonetheless, exclusive hernia repair reported a high proportion of SSI (30%), which is unusual for clean surgeries [31], although missing data could have influenced that percentage.

Similar findings were detected for the Clavien–Dindo classification, but the colorectal group had more COPD, recurrent hernias and higher CDC classification grades. This classification does not exclusively represent complications related to surgery; it also evaluates the treatment of systemic complications potentially influenced by comorbid patients. Prehabilitation programs led by multidisciplinary teams could optimize patients’ comorbidities and improve these outcomes [5, 24]. Protocols for prompt detection of anastomotic leakage can allow for the treatment of complications at an early stage and promote conservative strategies [32, 33].

Recognized hernia risk factors and surgical techniques influence recurrence rates [25]. Some other factors might be missing in our analysis due to scarce data. The presence of an experienced abdominal wall surgeon seemed to have no effect on recurrence, although we cannot exclude the possibility that it was preferred for complex defects or comorbid patients. According to the subgroup analysis from our center, patients who underwent surgery by experts presented improved outcomes, even for stoma reversal, although limited data were available.

Limitations of our study include those of registries, mainly in terms of loss to follow-up [14, 34]. It is unknown whether patients received prehabilitation strategies or whether a shared decision-making model was applied. It was not possible to claim that colorectal procedures were performed by experts in colorectal surgery, and the definition of “surgeon with experience” in abdominal wall surgery does not imply its certification. We could not compare our cohort with similar patients receiving only colorectal surgery to evaluate complication rates independent of hernia repair. The complexity of colorectal surgery was not evaluated (i.e., high-risk anastomosis, radiation or enterocutaneous fistula), and it could influence the risk of complications, highlighting the importance of case selection. Patients who received two different procedures were not evaluated, and it is not possible to know their progression or if they received a second-step surgery. The costs of the procedures and emergency cases were not evaluated.

Further studies should assess prehabilitation programs, both in one- and two-step procedures. Hernia repair and some colorectal procedures, in the context of benign disease, can be deferred; they allow for comorbidity optimization and preparation of the abdominal wall if needed (i.e., Botulinum toxin) with the aim of improving outcomes, especially if performed in reference centers with expert surgeons.

Concomitant surgery is related to greater risk of SSI and complications, especially in comorbid patients and complex hernias. However, in properly selected cases and in expert hands, simultaneous procedures present satisfactory results, especially in stoma reversal cases. Prehabilitation programs to improve patients’ conditions and share decision-making models should be applied.