title: Laparoscopy versus laparotomy in the repair of ventral hernias: systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the laparotomy and laparoscopy techniques for correction of ventral hernia when related to perioperative complications, length of hospitalization, surgical time, and recurrence of hernia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, which included studies retrieved from four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane and LILACS), using a combination of the terms (Hernia, Ventral) and (Laparoscopy) and (Laparotomy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six randomized trials were included, totaling 566 patients, 283 in the Laparoscopy group and 283 in the Laparotomy group. Laparoscopy reduced the risk of infection of the surgical wound (NNT = 5) and seroma formation (NNT = 13) and less length hospitalization (P = 0.02) compared to laparotomy in the correction of ventral hernias. Furthermore, laparoscopy increased the incidence of enterotomy (NNH = 25) and post operative pain (NNH = 8) and longer surgical time (P = 0.0009) when compared with laparotomy. There was no difference related to abscess (P = 0.79), hematoma (P = 0.43) and recurrency of ventral hernias (P = 0.25).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the correction of ventral hernias, the use of laparoscopic technique is effective to reduce infections of the surgical wound and seroma formation, as well as, decrease the length hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Centro Universitário Lusíada, Santos, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Paula Marcela Vilela
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Centro Universitário Lusíada, Santos, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Janayna Thainá
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Rabelato
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Centro Universitário Lusíada, Santos, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Gomes Ribeiro
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Centro Universitário Lusíada, Santos, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Ciconelli
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: del Guerra
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Cirúrgica, Centro Universitário Lusíada, Santos, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mônica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzurana
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Cirúrgica, Centro Universitário Lusíada, Santos, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Guines Antunes
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Alvarez
mesh_terms: D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007902:Length of Stay; D061646:Operative Time; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence