Methods of improving treatment results for patients with postoperative ventral hernia

Aim. To improve the results of surgical treatment for patients with postoperative ventral hernia by improving complex preoperative physical examination and better prevention of wound complications. Methods. Results of surgical treatment of 160 patients [mean age - 64 years, females - 120 (75%), males - 40 (25%)] with postoperative ventral hernia treated from 2003 to 2012 were analyzed. The surgeries were performed routinely. All patients were distributed to 2 groups depending on postoperative wound complications prevention. The main group included 60 patients who underwent a vacuum therapy (authors’ technology) during postoperative period for preventing wound complications. Perioperative management of patients with large and huge hernias in this group was performed according to recommendations of the European Society of Cardiologists and All-Russian Scientific Cardiologic Society for cardiovascular risk assessment at surgeries excluding heart surgery. Comparison group included 100 patients who underwent surgery for postoperative ventral hernias using a conventional vacuum drainage and common methods of patient examination according to recommended standards. Results. Using vacuum therapy in patients of the main group limited the number of Redon-drainage procedures, reduced the rate of local pyoinflammatory complications by 4.2 times (p <0.05). Cardiovascular risk identification and proper preoperative preparation allowed avoiding unfavorable outcomes associated with cardiovascular complications in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Conclusion. High efficiency of a complex approach in preventing postoperative complications after ventral hernias surgical treatment allows to recommend its use in clinical practice.

ventral hernia, cardiovascular risk, preoperative preparation