Mesh herniorrhaphy with simultaneous colorectal surgery: a case-matched study from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of concurrent mesh herniorrhaphy on short-term outcomes of colorectal surgery by using a large, nationwide database.

Methods: Patients who underwent simultaneous ventral hernia repair (VHR) and colorectal surgery between 2005 and 2010 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Patients who underwent VHR with mesh repair were case matched with patients who underwent VHR without mesh based on the type of colorectal procedure, diagnosis, and American Society of Anesthesiologists score.

Results: Two hundred sixty-two patients who underwent VHR with mesh were case matched with 524 patients who underwent VHR without mesh. Mean operating time was significantly longer in patients who underwent VHR with mesh (195.8 ± 98.7 vs 164.3 ± 84.4 minutes, P < .001). Postoperative morbidity (P = .58), mortality (P = .27), superficial surgical site infection (SSI) (P = .14), deep SSI (P = .38), organ space SSI (P = .17), wound disruption (P > .99), reoperation (P = .48), and length of hospital stay (P = .71) were comparable between the groups.

Conclusion: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data suggest that VHR with mesh does not increase 30-day mortality, medical or surgical morbidity in colorectal surgery setting.