Abstract Aim Incisional hernia repair is one of the most frequently performed surgeries, yet the factors that influence patient outcomes—in regard to complications and length of hospital stay—are not fully understood. This study delves into the demographic, surgical and post-operative variables that shape recovery following incisional hernia repair. Methods Data from 146 patients and 8 hospitals who underwent an incisional hernia repair were analysed, including age, BMI, comorbidities, hernia type, surgical technique, mesh type, antibiotic prophylaxis and post-operative complications. Results The cohort consisted of 53.4% females and 46.6% males. A significant proportion of patients had BMI values in the overweight (25-30, 54.8%) or obese (30, 39.0%) categories. Most hernias were midline (76.0%) and small to moderate in size (5 cm: 54.1%; 5-10 cm: 32.9%). Open surgical repair was predominant (97.3%) and antibiotic prophylaxis was used in 41.1% of cases. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between hernia size and repair type (p =0.038), while no significant relationships were observed for drain usage with post-operative complications (p 0.05). Complications were influenced by patient and surgical factors. Recurrence rates were higher in larger hernias(10cm:10.5%), suture repairs (14.3%) and patients with elevated ASA scores (ASA ≥3). Older patients and those with higher BMIs had longer hospital stays and laparoscopic approaches were associated with shorter durations of stay. Conclusion This study identifies significant variations in outcomes influenced by hernia size, patient comorbidities and surgical techniques, highlighting the dominance of open synthetic mesh repairs. These findings underscore the urgent need for a multicentre national study to standardise best practices.
Karagiannidis et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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