Comparative study between sublay (retrorectus) and onlay mesh placement in ventral hernia repair at a teaching hospital

Abstract

Background: Anterior abdominal wall defects give rise to ventral hernias. Treatment modalities vary from surgical options such as open procedure, laparoscopic method to further advanced robotic surgeries. The present study aimed to find the comparison between the postoperative and short term outcomes of onlay and retrorectus (sublay) mesh placements as ventral hernia repair methods. Materials and Methods: Our enrolled ventral hernia patients were divided into two groups of 20 each. Group A underwent traditional open onlay mesh repair and group B had open sublay/retrorectus mesh hernia repair. Age, gender, body mass index, comorbidities, and past surgical history, among both groups, were comparable. Results: The duration of surgery was significantly shorter in onlay group. The sublay group was related to fewer postsurgical complications and shorter duration of drain insertion. The duration of hospital stay had no statistical significance. Conclusion: Both techniques have their pros and cons and further research is required to determine a superlative.