[The use of botulinum toxin in hernia surgery: results of a survey in certified hernia centers].

Background: Botulinum toxin application into the abdominal wall prior to major hernia repair can reduce the complexity of surgery and has been increasingly used in recent years, even if it is an off-label use.

Objective: To what extent is botulinum toxin used in hernia surgery in German-speaking countries and what is the current evidence in the literature?

Material And Methods: In a voluntary online survey of German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV)-certified competence centers and reference centers for hernia surgery, aspects of botulinum toxin application were surveyed and the results analyzed.

Results: A total of 57 centers took part in the survey, of which 27 (47%) use botulinum toxin.