title: Prophylactic mesh reinforcement reduces stomal site incisional hernia after ileostomy closure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stomal site incisional hernia is a common complication following ileostomy closure. The effectiveness of prophylactic mesh placement at the time of stomal closure is unknown because of fear of mesh infection and subsequent wound complications. The present study investigated whether prophylactic mesh placement reduces the rate of incisional hernia after ileostomy closure without increasing wound complications. The study was based on retrospective review of consecutive ileostomy closures undertaken at a tertiary referral center between January 2007 and December 2011. Hernias were identified through clinical examination and computed tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three cases of ileostomy closure were reviewed; 47 patients received mesh reinforcement, and 36 underwent non-mesh closure (controls). In total, 16 (19.3 %) patients developed incisional hernia, 13 (36.1 %) of which occurred in the control group; 3 (6.4 %), in the mesh group [odds ratio (OR): 8.29; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.14-32.08; p = 0.001]. Incisional hernia repair was performed in 3 (23 %) patients in the control group; no hernias in the mesh group required surgery. There was no significant difference in wound infection rates between mesh (2 patients, 4.3 %) and control (1 patient, 2.8 %) groups. No mesh infection was found. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that malignancy (OR: 21.93, 95 % CI 1.58-303.95; p = 0.021) and diabetes (OR: 20.98, 95 % CI 3.23-136.31; p = 0.001) independently predicted incisional herniation, while mesh reinforcement prevented hernia development (OR: 0.06, 95 % CI 0.01-0.36; p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mesh placement significantly reduced the incidence of incisional hernia following ileostomy closure, but without increasing complication rates. This technique should be strongly considered in patients at high risk of hernia development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Austin Hospital, Level 8, 145 Studley Street, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia. liu.davidsh@gmail.com
authors.forename: David Shi Hao
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Banham
authors.forename: Srinivasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yellapu
mesh_terms: D058107:Abdominal Wound Closure Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology