title: Incisional hernia: laparoscopic or open repair?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare laparoscopic and open repair of incisional hernia in terms of complications and failure rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2005 and April 2012, 252 patients underwent incisional hernia repair. Of these, 126 underwent laparoscopic and 126 open repair. The median follow-up was 38.7 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics [age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, comorbidities, hernia size, and follow-up] did not differ significantly. Mean operative time was similar (72 vs. 83 min). Laparoscopic repair was associated with less postoperative pain, less postoperative complications (3.9% vs. 13.4%, P=0.012), and shorter hospital stay (3.5 vs. 4.3, P=0.002). Recurrence occurred in 6 patients of group 1 and in 7 patients of group 2 (4.7% vs. 5.5%, P=not significant).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the trend in favor of laparoscopic treatment for incisional hernias is remarkable. Fewer postoperative complications and shorter hospital stay with similar operative time may balance the higher costs associated with the technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, San Giovanni Hospital, Roma, Italy. francescostipa@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stipa
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giaccaglia
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burza
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bascone
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picchio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D013526:Surgical Mesh