Reoperation versus clinical recurrence rate after ventral hernia repair
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
OBJECTIVE:: To compare the clinical recurrence rate with reoperation rate for recurrence after ventral hernia repair. BACKGROUND:: Reoperation is often used as an outcome measure after ventral hernia repair, but it is unknown whether reoperation rate reflects the overall clinical risk for recurrence. METHODS:: The study cohort was recruited from the Danish Ventral Hernia Database and the Danish National Patient Registry during January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2007. Inclusion criteria were primary umbilical/epigastric (umb/epi) or incisional hernia repair from a regional area of 2 million inhabitants. A prospective clinical follow-up was conducted in January 2011 using a validated questionnaire on reoperation and possible recurrence. Suspicion of recurrence was the criterion for clinical examination. A telephone interview and/or patients' hospital files confirmed reoperation. RESULTS:: A total of 945 patients were eligible, and 902 patients responded to the questionnaire (response rate 95%) with a median postoperative follow-up of 41 months (range 0-48 months). The analysis comprised 646 patients with umb/epi and 256 patients with incisional hernia repair. Clinical examination was required in 241 patients. After umb/epi and incisional hernia repair, the cumulative risks of reoperation and overall recurrence (reoperation + clinical) were 4% and 15% (fourfold underestimation), and 8% and 37% (fivefold underestimation) (P <0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS:: Reoperation rate for recurrence 41 months after primary umbilical/epigastric or incisional hernia repair underestimated overall risk of recurrence by four- to fivefolds. This study was registered in www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01325246).
Original language | English |
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Journal | Annals of Surgery |
Volume | 256 |
Issue number | 6 |
Pages (from-to) | 955-8 |
Number of pages | 4 |
ISSN | 0003-4932 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
ID: 40168681