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Long-term outcomes of seromas after ventral hernia repair: a propensity score-matched analysis of the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative

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Abstract

Purpose

Seromas can occur after ventral hernia repairs (VHR), but little is known about their relevance to short- and long-term outcomes. We aimed to determine if there is a correlation between seroma occurrence after clean VHR with mesh and patient-reported and clinical outcomes.

Methods

Patients with and without seromas in the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative registry were compared using a propensity score-matched analysis. Outcomes included hospital readmissions, postoperative antibiotics use, and procedural interventions. Pain and hernia-related quality of life were assessed at 30 days and 1 year. Composite hernia recurrence rates were compared at 1 year.

Results

Propensity score matching compared 218 patients with a seroma to 649 without a seroma. At 30 days, patients with seromas were more likely to be readmitted (27 (12%) vs 28 (4%), respectively; P < 0.001), receive postoperative antibiotics (25 (12%) vs 18 (3%), respectively; P < 0.001), and undergo procedural interventions (41 (19%) vs 23 (4%), respectively; P < 0.001) than patients without seromas. Surgical site occurrences were more common in patients with seromas than those without seromas at 1 year (12 (11%) vs 12 (4%), respectively; P = 0.01).Pain and hernia-related quality of life were similar for both groups at 30 days and 1 year. Composite hernia recurrence rates were similar for both groups at 1 year (37 seroma (17%) vs 115 no seroma (18%); P = 0.80).

Conclusion

Seromas after clean VHR with mesh were associated with short- and long-term morbidity, but they did not significantly impact quality of life or hernia recurrences at 1 year.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cleveland Clinic Center for Abdominal Core Health, Department of General Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA

    B. T. Miller, K. F. Baier, S. J. Zolin, C. C. Petro, L. R. A. Beffa, D. M. Krpata, M. J. Rosen & A. S. Prabhu

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    L.-C. Huang & S. Phillips

Authors
  1. B. T. Miller
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  2. K. F. Baier
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  3. S. J. Zolin
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  4. L.-C. Huang
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  5. S. Phillips
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  7. L. R. A. Beffa
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  8. D. M. Krpata
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  9. M. J. Rosen
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  10. A. S. Prabhu
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Contributions

Dr. BTM contributed to data interpretation, manuscript writing, and final approval. Drs. KFB, SJZ, CCP, LRAB, DMK, ASP, and MJR contributed to study design, data acquisition and interpretation, manuscript revision, and final approval. Drs. L-CH and SP contributed data analysis, manuscript revision, and final approval.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. T. Miller.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Michael J. Rosen receives salary support as medical director of the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative and is a board member of Ariste Medical with stock options. Dr. Ajita S. Prabhu is a consultant for Verb Surgical and CMR Surgical. She has also been a speaker for and has received grant support from Intuitive Surgical. Dr. Benjamin T. Miller, Dr. Kevin F. Baier, Dr. Samuel J Zolin, Dr. Li-Ching Huang, Dr. Sharon Phillips, Dr. Clayton C. Petro, Dr. Lucas R. A. Beffa, and Dr. David M. Krpata have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

Ethical approval

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Institutional Review Board reviewed and approved this study.

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Miller, B.T., Baier, K.F., Zolin, S.J. et al. Long-term outcomes of seromas after ventral hernia repair: a propensity score-matched analysis of the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative. Hernia 27, 373–378 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-022-02613-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-022-02613-x

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