Longitudinal Relaxing Incision as a Technique for Recurrence Prevention in Ventral Hernia, Does it Help? : A Randomized Controlled Study

Background: Ventral hernias of the abdomen are defined as a non-inguinal, non-hiatal defect in the fascia of the abdominal wall.The aim of this work was to determine the efficiency of using longitudinal relaxing incision as a technique for recurrence prevention in ventral hernia.Methods: This randomized controlled study was carried out on 40 patients aged from 18 to 60-years-old, both sexes, diagnosed with primary type of ventral hernia (not incisional) and scheduled for elective open repair.Patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups: Group A who underwent traditional hernial repair as control group, and Group B who had the longitudinal release incision. Results:The duration of the surgical procedure had a median of 40 minutes in Group A, compared to 45 minutes in Group B, with no significant difference.Additionally, intraoperative blood loss was statistically comparable between the two groups (40 vs. 35 minutes in the same groups, respectively).No intraoperative complications were encountered in the current study.Insignificant differences were detected between both groups regarding hospital stay, time to drain removal, postoperative morbidity [Infection, dehiscence, and seroma], mortality, recurrence at six-month, and changes in quality of life (QOL).Only one patient developed recurrence in Group A. Conclusions:The application of longitudinal relaxing incision is not associated with a significant decline in the incidence of recurrence on the short term, after open surgical repair of ventral hernias.