Sebastian Schaaf†, Robert Schwab†, Christoph Güsgen† and Arnulf Willms*†
Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, German Armed Forces Central Hospital Koblenz, Koblenz, Germany
Front. Surg., 15 December 2020
Sec. Visceral Surgery
https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2020.578565
Introduction
Incisional hernia development after open abdomen therapy (OAT) remains a common complication in the long run. To demonstrate the feasibility, we describe our method of prophylactic onlay mesh implantation with definitive fascial closure after open abdomen therapy (PROMOAT). To display the feasibility of this concept, we evaluated the short-term outcome after absorbable and non-absorbable synthetic mesh implantation as prophylactic onlay.
Material and Methods
Ten patients were prospectively enrolled, and prophylactic onlay mesh (long-term absorbable or non-absorbable) was implanted at the definitive fascial closure operation. The cohort was followed up with a special focus on incisional hernia development and complications.
Results
OAT duration was 21.0 ± 12.6 days (95% CI: 16.9–25.1). Definitive fascial closure was achieved in all cases. No incisional hernias were present during a follow-up interval of 12.4 ± 10.8 months (range 1–30 months). Two seromas and one infected hematoma occurred. The outcome did not differ between mesh types.
Conclusion
The prophylactic onlay mesh implantation of alloplastic, long-term absorbable, or non-absorbable meshes in OAT showed promising results and only a few complications that were of minor concern. Incisional hernias did not occur during follow-up. To validate the feasibility and safety of prophylactic onlay mesh implantation long-term data and large-scaled prospective trials are needed to give recommendations on prophylactic onlay mesh implantation after OAT.