Comparing quality-of-life outcomes in symptomatic patients undergoing laparoscopic or open ventral hernia repair.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to compare quality-of-life outcomes in patients with symptomatic hernias who were undergoing laparoscopic and open repairs.


METHODS
Clinical data for patients undergoing ventral hernia repair were reviewed with quality-of-life surveys administered before and at least 6 months following surgery.


RESULTS
The study included 56 symptomatic patients. Forty-one patients (73%) underwent laparoscopic repair, and 15 patients (27%) underwent open repair. There was no difference in preoperative quality-of-life scores on the SF-36 Health Survey between patients having laparoscopic or open repairs. Postoperative quality-of-life scores on the SF-36 survey were significantly improved in the laparoscopic group, compared with the open group, in general health (46% vs. 37%; P=0.0217), vitality (53% vs. 45%; P=0.0491), role-emotional (45% vs. 35%; P=0.0480), and mental health (49% vs. 39%; P=0.0381). Postoperative quality-of-life scores on the Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS) were significantly improved in the laparoscopic group, compared with the open group, in bending over (3.15 vs. 5.87, P=0.0158), sitting up (2.51 vs. 5.13; P=0.0211), activities of daily living (2.48 vs. 5.75; P=0.0139), coughing or deep breathing (2.95 vs. 5.75; P=0.0314), walking (2.36 vs. 4.62; P=0.0427), exercising (3.19 vs. 6.14; P=0.0222), and total comfort scale (17.62 vs. 40.23; P=0.0084).


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair provides improved quality-of-life, compared with open repair, 6 months postoperatively. Nearly all physical variables measured by the CCS were significantly better when ventral hernias were repaired laparoscopically.
Hope
William W
WW
Carolinas Hernia Center, Division of Gastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina 28203, USA.
Lincourt
Amy E
AE
Newcomb
William L
WL
Schmelzer
Thomas M
TM
Kercher
Kent W
KW
Heniford
B Todd
BT
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome