title: Suture, synthetic, or biologic in contaminated ventral hernia repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data are lacking to support the choice between suture, synthetic mesh, or biologic matrix in contaminated ventral hernia repair (VHR). We hypothesize that in contaminated VHR, suture repair is associated with the lowest rate of surgical site infection (SSI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter database of all open VHR performed at from 2010-2011 was reviewed. All patients with follow-up of 1 mo and longer were included. The primary outcome was SSI as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The secondary outcome was hernia recurrence (assessed clinically or radiographically). Multivariate analysis (stepwise regression for SSI and Cox proportional hazard model for recurrence) was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 761 VHR were reviewed for a median (range) follow-up of 15 (1-50) mo: there were 291(38%) suture, 303 (40%) low-density and/or mid-density synthetic mesh, and 167(22%) biologic matrix repair. On univariate analysis, there were differences in the three groups including ethnicity, ASA, body mass index, institution, diabetes, primary versus incisional hernia, wound class, hernia size, prior VHR, fascial release, skin flaps, and acute repair. The unadjusted outcomes for SSI (15.1%; 17.8%; 21.0%; P = 0.280) and recurrence (17.8%; 13.5%; 21.5%; P = 0.074) were not statistically different between groups. On multivariate analysis, biologic matrix was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in both SSI and recurrences, whereas synthetic mesh associated with fewer recurrences compared to suture (hazard ratio = 0.60; P = 0.015) and nonsignificant increase in SSI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interval estimates favored biologic matrix repair in contaminated VHR; however, these results were not statistically significant. In the absence of higher level evidence, surgeons should carefully balance risk, cost, and benefits in managing contaminated ventral hernia repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Ioana L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Bondre
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: Julie.L.Holihan@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Holihan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Erik P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Askenasy
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Jacob A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Jerrod N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Martindale
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Mike K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D058107:Abdominal Wound Closure Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001688:Biological Products; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013537:Sutures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products
keywords: Clean contaminated; Contaminated; Hernia repair; Mesh; Umbilical hernia; Ventral hernia