Concomitant Ventral Hernia Repair and Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review

Abstract

This study is a review on the management of ventral hernia during bariatric surgery. The main outcomes are the recurrence rate after ventral hernia repair and the incidence of prosthetic infection. Eleven studies were included. Ventral hernias were treated by simple suture (n = 191), synthetic mesh (n = 186), and biological mesh (n = 72). Mean defect size was 18 cm². Recurrence rate was 25.7% in the suture group, 14.3% in the biomesh group, and 1.1% in the synthetic mesh group (p < 0.05). Mesh infection rate was not different between the groups. No significant difference was observed in 30-day reoperation. Concomitant treatment of small hernia defect is feasible and safe during bariatric surgery. Synthetic mesh provides a significantly lower recurrence rate without any increase in 30-day wound morbidity.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Biological mesh; Clean-contaminated surgery; Synthetic mesh; Ventral hernia.