title: [Watchful waiting vs surgical repair of oligosymptomatic incisional hernias: Current status of the AWARE study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Incisional hernias are one of the the most frequent complications in visceral surgery and incisional hernia repair has a relevant complication rate. Therefore, there have to be solid indications before carrying out incisional hernia repair. To date, there is a lack of evidence concerning the correct indications for surgical repair of incisional hernias. The AWARE trial compares watchful waiting to surgical repair of incisional hernias.
  
  
  METHODS
  The AWARE trial is a prospective randomized multicenter trial. Patients with asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic incisional hernia are randomized into the watchful waiting or the surgical repair group with a follow-up of 2 years. The primary endpoint is pain during normal activities due to the hernia or the hernia repair after 2 years measured on the hernia-specific surgical pain scale (SPS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study 36 centers are participating throughout Germany, more than 1600 patients had been screened up to 31 December 2014 and 234 (14.6%) of the screened patients could be recruited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AWARE study will provide evidence concerning the two therapeutic options of watchful waiting and surgical repair of incisional hernia.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Gefäßchirurgie, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Deutschland. johannes.lauscher@charite.de.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lauscher
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Gefäßchirurgie, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leonhardt
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Epidemiologie und angewandte Biometrie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Silcherstr. 5, 72076, Tübingen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martus
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinisch-Onkologische Forschung, Krankenhaus Nordwest GmbH, Steinbacher Hohl 2-26, 60488, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zur Hausen
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Gefäßchirurgie, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aschenbrenner
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Gefäßchirurgie, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zurbuchen
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Warener Str. 7, 12683, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thielemann
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Polyklinik für Viszeral-, Thorax- und Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Fetscherstr.74, 01307, Dresden, Deutschland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kohlert
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TUM, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schirren
authors.affiliation: Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie, GRN-Klinik Sinsheim, Alte Waibstadter Straße 2, 74889, Sinsheim, Deutschland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie, Schiffbauerdamm 40, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Buhr
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie, HELIOS Kliniken Schwerin, Wismarsche Straße 393-397, 19055, Schwerin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ritz
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Gefäßchirurgie, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kreis
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D000069290:Incisional Hernia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D057832:Watchful Waiting
keywords: AWARE study; Oligosymptomatic incisional hernia; Prospective randomized trial; Surgical repair; Watchful waiting