Front. Surg. Frontiers in Surgery Front. Surg. 2296-875X Frontiers Media S.A. 10.3389/fsurg.2018.00071 Surgery Systematic Review Onlay Technique in Incisional Hernia Repair—A Systematic Review Köckerling Ferdinand * Department of Surgery and Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Academic Teaching Hospital of Charité Medical School, Vivantes Hospital, Berlin, Germany

Edited by: Evangelos P. Misiakos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Reviewed by: Bassem Soliman Hegab, National Liver Institute, Egypt; Jan Frank Kukleta, University of Zurich, Switzerland

 *Correspondence: Ferdinand Köckerling ferdinand.koeckerling@vivantes.de

This article was submitted to Visceral Surgery, a section of the journal Frontiers in Surgery

 27 11 2018 2018 5 71 05 09 2018 08 11 2018 Copyright © 2018 Köckerling. 2018 Köckerling

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Introduction: A meta-analysis that compared the onlay vs. sublay technique in open incisional hernia repair identified better outcomes for the sublay operation. Nonetheless, an Expert Consensus Guided by Systematic Review found the onlay mesh location useful in certain settings. Therefore, all studies on the onlay technique were once again collated and analyzed.

Materials and Methods: A systematic search of the available literature was performed in August 2018 using Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Springer Link, and the Cochrane Library. For the present analysis 42 publications were identified as relevant.

Results: In five prospective randomized trials and 17 observational studies the postoperative complication rates ranged between 5 and 76%, with a mean value of 33.5%. The recurrence rates in these studies also ranged between 0 and 32%, with a mean value of 9.9%. Hence, compared with the literature data on the sublay operation, more post-operative complications, in particular wound complications and seroma, with a comparable recurrence rate, were identified.

Conclusion: When the onlay technique is used in certain settings for incisional hernia repair, a careful dissection technique and prophylactic measures (drainage, abdominal binders, fibrin sealant) should be employed to prevent wound complications and seroma formation.

 incisional hernia onlay technique wound complications surgical site infection seroma recurrence Introduction

A meta-analysis that compared the onlay vs. sublay technique (1) in incisional hernia repair on the basis of two prospective randomized trials (RCTs) (2, 3), one prospective (4), and seven retrospective studies (5–11) identified significantly fewer surgical site infections and recurrences to the advantage of the sublay technique (1). Likewise, in a Danish registry study, the onlay technique was found to be a significant risk factor for a poorer long-term outcome (12). In one of the two RCTs, onlay mesh reconstruction in the large hernia group provided significantly better results than sublay repair (3). The recurrence rate was lower in the onlay group (12 vs. 20%; p < 0.05) (3). In an Expert Consensus Guided by Systematic Review the panel agreed that for open, elective ventral, and incisional hernia repair sublay mesh location is preferred, but onlay mesh location may be useful in certain settings (13).

This paper now once again critically analyzes the characteristics and findings of the available literature on the onlay technique in incisional hernia repair. To that effect, studies with a mixed patient collective comprising primary ventral hernias and incisional hernias had to be excluded due to significant differences in the outcomes (14–18). Particular attention should be paid to key questions, under which circumstances the onlay technique is advantageous and which factors are impacting the outcome of this technique.

 Materials and methods

A systematic search of the available literature was performed in August 2018 using Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Springer Link, and the Cochrane Library, as well as a search of relevant journals and reference lists. The following search terms were used: “Incisional hernia,” “incisional and ventral hernia,” “ventral hernia,” “hernia and onlay,” “ventral hernia and onlay.” The abstracts of 463 publications were screened (Figure 1).

Prisma flow diagram of study inclusion.

For the present analysis, 42 publications were identified as relevant for the key question. According to the Prisma guidelines (19), a systematic presentation, and synthesis, of the characteristics and findings of the included studies has been made (Tables 1–3).

Results of onlay technique with defect closure in incisional hernia repair in RCTs.

References Patients Hernia type Inclusion/Exclusion Technique Post-operative complications Recurrence Hospital stay
Venclauskas et al. (2) n = 57 Incisional Male n = 22 female n = 35 Defect closure Wound complications 49.1%, Seroma 45.6% 10.5% after 12 months follow-up 5.9 ± 2.3 days
Weber et al. (3) n = 224 Incisional Hernia orifice >25 cm2 Defect closure — — 12% in a 5 years follow-up — —
Natarajan et al. (20) n = 13 Incisional Exclusion of previous mesh repair Defect closure Seroma 38.5%, wound infection 16.7% — — — —
Sevinc et al. (21) n = 50 Incisional Exclusion of patients with a BMI >40 Defect closure Wound complications 24% 6% with a median follow-up of 37.1 months 3.36 ± 1.9 days
Demetrashvili et al. (22) n = 78 Incisional Exclusion of recurrent incisional hernias Defect closure Wound complications 50%, Seroma 41% 5.1% in a mean follow-up of 4.6 ± 1.0 years 5.5 ± 2.7 days

Results of onlay technique with defect closure in incisional hernia repair in observational studies.

References Patients Hernia type Inclusion/Exclusion Technique Post-operative complications Recurrence Hospital stay
Kingsnorth et al. (23) n = 95 Incisional 31% with recurrent incisional hernia Defect closure Post-operative complication rate 25%, Seroma rate 9.5%, wound infection 8.6% 3.4% after a median follow-up of 15.2 months Mean length of stay 6.0 days (range: 2–44 days)
Andersen et al. (24) n = 56 Incisional Consecutive patients Defect closure Post-operative complication rate 13% 15% in a median observation time of 35 months (range: 4–151) — —
Gleysteen et al. (6) n = 75 Incisional 35% recurrent incisional hernias Defect closure Wound complication 21.3%, seroma 10.7%, wound infection 12.0%, hematoma 6.7% 20.0% after a median follow-up of 19 months — —
Poelman et al. (25) n = 101 Incisional Minimum defect size 10 × 20 cm Defect closure Wound infection 21.0%, Seroma 27.0% 16% with a median follow-up of 64 months 4.5 days (quartiles 3-6.25)
Stoikes et al. (26) n = 50 Incisional 4 patients with prior mesh procedure Defect closure, mesh fibrin glue fixation Wound complication 24% Seroma 16%, 0% after a mean follow-up of 19.5 months Mean hospital stay 2.9 days (range: 0–15 days)
Alicuben et al. (27) n = 22 Incisional Clean, clean contaminated and contaminated cases included Defect closure in 21 cases, bridging in 1 case, biological mesh Wound complication 38.1%, Seroma 28.6%, wound infection 9.5% 4.8% (after bridge repair) in a median follow-up of 7 months (range: 2–14) Median hospital stay: 7 days
Hopson et al. (28) n = 20 Incisional Defect size width or length ≥10 cm Defect closure, Pro Grip Mesh Wound complication 5%, 0% in 2 years follow-up Same day n = 15, next day n = 5
Gemici et al. (29) n = 154 Incisional 3 patient underwent additional abdominoplasty (1.9%) 7.1% urgent cases Defect closure, full-thickness mesh fixation Wound complication 43.7%, seroma 26.6%, wound infection 3.2% 5.2% in a median follow-up of 54 months (range: 12–96) Mean hospital stay 4.9 days (range: 3–8)
Juvany et al. (30) n = 76 Incisional Exclusion of patients without 5-years follow-up Defect closure Wound complication 18.4%, seroma 10.5%, wound infection 2.6% 32% after 5-years follow-up — —
Tuveri et al. (31) n = 71 Incisional Defect size >6 cm Defect closure with incision of the anterior rectus sheath, biological mesh Wound complication 76%, seroma 72%, skin necrosis 4% 1.4% in a mean follow-up of 40 months (range: 9–82 months) Median hospital stay 6 days (range: 3–12)

Results of onlay technique without or unknown defect closure in incisional hernia repair in observational studies.

References Patients Hernia type Inclusion/Exclusion Technique Post-operative complications Recurrence Hospital stay
Kingsnorth et al. (9) n = 16 Incisional Lateral and transverse hernias Defect closure unknown Post-operative complication 31.2% 6% in a follow-up between 6 months and 6 years Mean hospital stay 7.9 days (range: 6–50 days)
de Vries Reilingh et al. (10) n = 13 Incisional Large midline incisional hernias No defect closure Post-operative complication n = 17, seroma 69.2%, wound infection 23.1% skin necrosis 23.1% 23.1% in a median observation time of 19.4 months — —
Machairas et al. (32) n = 43 Incisional 56% recurrent incisional hernias No defect closure Wound complication 21%, seroma 14%, wound infection 7% 9.3% in a mean follow-up of 54.4 months (range: 4–106 months) 6–8 days
Coskun et al. (11) n = 22 Incisional — — Defect closure unknown Wound complication 22.7%, seroma 4.5%, wound infection 9.1% 13.6% 7.9 days (range: 5–11 days)
Abdollahi et al. (8) n = 33 Incisional Emergency cases excluded Defect closure unknown Wound complication 9.1% 6.1% in a mean follow-up of 98 months (range: 48–174 months) — —
Kumar et al. (4) n = 45 Incisional — — Defect closure unknown Wound complication 37.8%, seroma 24.44%, wound infection 13.33% 10.8% in a follow-up of 2–24 months — —
Memon et al. (33) n = 60 Incisional Defect size ≥10 cm Defect closure unknown Surgical site infection 21.7% 6.7% in a mean follow-up of 20.05 months (range: 12–48 months) — —
Results Incisional hernia repair in onlay technique in meta-analyses

A meta-analysis of the Cochrane Library (34) that included two RCTs reporting on only incisional hernias (35, 36) did not identify any significant difference between the open onlay and the intraperitoneal onlay mesh (open IPOM) technique.

The meta-analysis by Timmermanns et al. (1) that included two RCTs, one prospective and seven retrospective studies (2–11) with 775 onlay operations and 1,173 sublay operations in incisional hernia repair observed a trend for recurrence in favor of sublay repair (odds ratio = 2.41; 95% CI 0.99–5.88; p = 0.05). Surgical site infection occurred significantly less often after sublay repair (odds ratio 2.42; 95% CI 1.02–5.74; p = 0.05).

No difference was observed regarding seroma and hematoma (1).

 Results of onlay technique in incisional hernia repair in RCTs

In the meantime, the findings of five RCTs reporting on the use of the onlay technique in incisional hernia repair are available (Table 1) (2, 3, 20–22). In all RCTs, defect closure was carried out as part of the onlay technique. The wound complication rate for the onlay technique in all RCTs was between 24 and 49.1%. The most common wound complication was seroma formation as seen in between 38.5 and 45.6% of cases. Conversely, the recurrence rates were within an acceptable range of between 5.1 and 12% at follow-up of 1–5 years.

 Results of onlay technique for incisional hernia repair in registries and multicenter observational studies

In a nationwide prospective study of the Danish Ventral Hernia Database conducted between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2010, 454 from 3,258 incisional hernias were repaired with onlay technique (12). The cumulative risk of recurrence repair after open and laparoscopic repair was 21.1 and 15.5%, respectively (p = 0.03). Younger age, open repair, hernia defects >7 cm, and onlay mesh positioning in open repair were significant risk factors for poor late outcomes (p < 0.05) (12).

In a Swedish study reporting 869 incisional hernia repairs from 40 hospitals the recurrence rate for the onlay technique 12–24 months after surgery was 19.3% (5).

In a retrospective study of 16 Veterans Affairs Hospitals, 1,346 elective incisional hernia repairs, of which 30% in onlay mesh technique, were analyzed (37).

Compared with suture repair, the onlay mesh technique did not substantially reduce the recurrence risk (37).

 Results of onlay technique for incisional hernia repair with defect closure in observational studies

The findings of 10 observational studies (6, 23–31), which describe defect closure as part of the repair technique, are available on onlay incisional hernia repair. The wound complication rates were reported to be between 5 and 76%, the seroma rates between 9.5 and 72% and the recurrence rates between 0 and 20.0% (Table 2). In the study by Tuveri et al. (31) with a very high wound complication rate of 76% and a seroma rate of 72%, defect closure involved incision of the anterior rectus sheath and the use of a biological mesh. The lowest post-operative complication rate with 5% and a recurrence rate of 0% in a follow-up of 2 years was published by Hopson et al. (28) in incisional hernias with a defect size in width or length not larger than 10 cm and the use of a self-fixating mesh. A lower post-operative complication rate of 13% and a recurrence rate of 15% in a median follow-up time of 35 months (range 4–151 months) was also reported by Anderson et al. (24) in a consecutive series operated by 4 senior surgeons of a single institution.

 Results of onlay technique for incisional hernia repair without or with unknown defect closure

In seven other observational studies (4, 8–11, 32, 33) on the onlay technique in incisional hernia repair, defect closure was not performed or whether defect closure was carried out was not described as part of the surgical technique. In these studies, the wound complication rate was reported to be between 9.1 and 37.8%, seroma rate between 4.5 and 69.2% and the recurrence rate between 6.1 and 23.1%.

The lowest post-operative complication and recurrence rate in this subgroup was demonstrated in a case series of 354 incisional hernias with a very selected indication for onlay repair (8).

 Mean values of post-operative complication and recurrence rates

Overall, on evaluating the results of all studies together the mean value for the post-operative complication rate was 33.5%, with a range from 5 to 76%, and for the recurrence rate it was 9.9%, with a range from 0 to 32%.

 Discussion

In the meta-analysis by Timmermanns et al. (1) comparing sublay vs. onlay incisional hernia repair, fewer surgical site infections as well as recurrences were identified in favor of the sublay technique. That was also confirmed by data from the Danish Hernia Registry (12). Nonetheless, an Expert Consensus Guided by Systematic Review found that, while the sublay operation should be given preference for incisional hernia repair, the onlay mesh location might be useful in certain settings (13). Therefore, in this present review the available data on the onlay technique in incisional hernia repair were collated in order to compare this method with the sublay technique (38). In this analysis, too, it was revealed that the onlay technique was associated with a higher post-operative complication rate, with a mean value of 33.5% and range from 5 to 76%, than the sublay technique, with mean value of 18.6% and range from 8 to 26% (38). The mean value for the recurrence rate in the onlay technique was 9.9% with a range from 0 to 32% and, as such, was comparable with the results of the sublay operation with mean value of 13.5% and range from 1.6 to 32% (38). Hence, the main difference between the sublay and the onlay technique was a higher post-operative complication rate to the disadvantage of the onlay technique. Since these complications were generally wound complications and seroma it is thought that they were attributable to the more extensive dissection in the abdominal wall for exposure of the anterior rectus sheath and the anterior abdominal wall fascia for mesh placement in the onlay position (1). Surgical experience, selective indications, and smaller defects seem to reduce the post-operative complication rate (8, 24, 28). Whether continuous drainage of the wound area in the onlay technique could improve the outcomes cannot be ascertained at present on the basis of the existing literature (39, 40). Therefore, the role of drains in open incisional hernia repair should be investigated in further studies (39, 40). Additional preventive measures against post-operative seroma formation in open incisional hernia repair could entail wearing abdominal binders for several weeks and/or the use of low-thrombin fibrin sealant (41, 42).

Therefore, future studies on the onlay technique in incisional hernia repair should involve selected indications, a standardized surgical technique by experienced surgeons, paying special attention to ensuring careful dissection in the abdominal wall and to the incorporation of preventative measures against seroma formation.

With regard to the recurrence rate, the onlay technique appears by all means to be comparable with the sublay operation. If the onlay technique outcomes can be improved through technical standardization and the consistent use of measures aimed at reducing the seroma rate, according to the Expert Consensus (13) the onlay technique could indeed be useful in certain settings. Therefore, the onlay technique, should be further investigated in good studies in the future, while focusing in particular on identification of the settings in which the onlay technique has advantages over other surgical procedures.

In conclusion, it must be stated that based on the available literature the onlay compared with the sublay technique in incisional hernia repair is associated with markedly more wound complications and seroma rates and with a comparable recurrence rate. Therefore, in the onlay technique the occurrence of wound complications and seroma formation must be prevented through selective indications, surgical experience, careful dissection in the abdominal wall, and prophylactic measures such as drainage, abdominal binders, fibrin sealant. Furthermore, those settings in which the onlay technique has advantages must be better defined.

 Author contributions

FK: literature search, design of study, concept of manuscript, and final submission.

Conflict of interest statement

The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

 References Timmermanns L De Goede B van Dijk SM Kleinrensink GJ Jeekel J Lange JF. Meta-analysis of sublay versus onlay mesh repair in incisional hernia surgery. Am J Surg. (2014) 207:980–8. 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.08.030 Venclauskas L Maleckas A Kiudelis M. One-year follow-up after incisional hernia treatment: results of a prospective randomized study. Hernia (2010) 14:575–82. 10.1007/s10029-010-0686-820567989 Wéber G Baracs J Horváth ÖP. “Onlay” mesh provides significantly better results than “sublay” reconstruction. Magy Seb. (2010) 63:302–11. 10.1556/MaSeb.63.2010.5.320965863 Kumar V Rodrigues G Ravi C Kumar S. A comparative analysis on various techniques of incisional hernia repair-experience from a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. Indian J Surg. (2013) 75:271–3. 10.1007/s12262-012-0644-z24426451 Israelsson LA Smedberg S Montgomery A Nordin P Spangen L. Incisional hernia repair in Sweden 2002. Hernia (2006) 10:258–61. 10.1007/s10029-006-0084-416554979 Gleysteen JJ. Mesh-reinforced ventral hernia repair: preference for 2 techniques. Arch Surg. (2009) 144:740–5. 10.1001/archsurg.2009.11819687378 Forte A Zullino A Manfredelli S. Incisional hernia surgery: report on 283 cases. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. (2011) 15:644–8. 21796868 Abdollahi A Maddah GH Mehrabi BM Jangjoo A Forghani MN Sharbaf N. Prosthetic incisional hernioplasty: clinical experience with 354 cases. Hernia (2010) 14:569–73. 10.1007/s10029-010-0685-920694850 Kingsnorth AN Sivarajasingham N Wong S Butler M. Open mesh repair of incisional hernias with significant loss of domain. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. (2004) 86:363–6. 10.1308/14787080423615333175 De Vries RTS van Geldere D Langenhorst B de Jong D van der Wilt GJ van Goor H . Repair of large midline incisonal hernias with polypropylene mesh: comparison of three operative techniques. Hernia (2004) 8:56–9. 10.1007/s10029-003-0170-9 Coskun M Peker Y Tatar F Cin N Kar H Kahya MC. Median incisional hernia and the factors affecting the recurrence of median incisional hernia repair. Erciyes Tip Dergisi (2009) 31:244–9. Helgstrand F Rosenberg J Kehlet H Jorgensen LN Bisgaard T. Nationwide prospective study of outcomes after elective incisional hernia repair. J Am Coll Surg. (2013) 216:217–28. 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2012.10.01323219350 Liang MK Holihan JL Itani K Alawadi ZM Flores Gonzalez JR Askenasy EP. Ventral heria management – expert consensus guided by systematic review. Ann Surg. (2017) 265:80–9. 10.1097/SLA.000000000000170128009730 Kroese LF Gillion JF Jeekel J Kleinrensink GJ Lange JF Hernia-Club Members. Primary and incisional ventral hernias are different in terms of patient characteristics and postoperative complications – a prospective cohort study of 4,565 patients. Int J Surg. (2018) 51:114–9. 10.1016/j.ijsu.2018.01.01029413874 Köckerling F Schug-Paß C Adolf D Reinpold W Stechemesser B. Is pooled data analysis of ventral and incisional hernia repair acceptable? Front Surg. (2015) 2:15. 10.3389/fsurg.2015.0001526029697 Stirler VM Schoenmaeckers EJ de Haas RJ Raymakers JT Rakic S. Laparoscopic repair of primary and incisional ventral hernias: the differences must be acknowledged – a prospective cohort analysis of 1,088 consecutive patients. Surg Endosc. (2014) 28:891–5. 10.1007/s00464-013-3243-624141473 Subramanian A Clapp ML Hicks SC Awad SS Liang MK. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: primary versus secondary hernias. J Surg Res. (2013) 181:e1–5. 10.1016/j.jss.2012.06.02822795342 Kurian A Gallagher S Cheeyandira A Josloff R. Laparoscopic repair of primary versus incisional ventral hernias: time to recognize the differences? Hernia (2010) 14:383–7. 10.1007/s10029-010-0649-020372954 Liberati A Altman D Tetzlaff J Mulrow C Gotzsche PC Ioannidis J . The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. J Clin Epidemiol. 62:e1–34. 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.06.00619631507 Natarajan S Meenaa S Thimmaiah KA. A randomized prospective study to evaluate preperitoneal mesh repair versus onlay mesh repair and laparoscopic IPOM in incisional hernia surgery. Indian J Surg. (2017) 79:96–100. 10.1007/s12262-015-1430-5 Sevinc B Okus A Ay S Aksoy N Karahan Ö. Randomized prospective comparison of long-term results onlay and sublay mesh repair techniques for incisional hernia. Turk J Surg. (2018) 34:17–20. 10.5152/turkjsurg.2017.371229756100 Demetrashvili Z Pipia I Loladze D Metreveli T Ekaladze E Kenchadze G . Open retromuscular mesh repair versus onlay technique of incisional hernia: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Surg. (2017) 37:65–70. 10.1016/j.ijsu.2016.12.00827940291 Kingsnorth AN Shahid MK Valliattu AJ Hadden RA Porter CS. Open onlay mesh repair for major abdominal wall hernias with selective use of components separation and fibrin sealant. World J Surg. (2008) 32:26–30. 10.1007/s00268-007-9287-918026789 Andersen LP Klein M Gögenur I Rosenberg J. Long-term recurrence and complication rates after incisional hernia repair with the open onlay technique. BMC Surg. (2009) 9:6. 10.1186/1471-2482-9-619400934 Poelman MM Langenhorst B Schellekens JF Schreurs WH. Modified onlay technique for the repair of the more complicated incisional hernias: single-centre evaluation of a large cohort. Hernia (2010) 14:369–74. 10.1007/s10029-010-0646-320229287 Stoikes N Webb D Powell B Voeller G. Preliminary report of a sutureless onlay technique for incisional hernia repair using fibrin glue alone for mesh fixation. Am Surg. (2013) 79:1177–80. 24165253 Alicuben ET DeMeester SR. Onlay ventral hernia repairs using procine non-cross-linked dermal biologic mesh. Hernia (2014) 18:705–12. 10.1007/s10029-013-1054-223400527 Hopson SB Miller LE. Open ventral hernia repair using ProGrip™ self-gripping mesh. Int J Surg. (2015) 23:137–40. 10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.09.069 Gemici K Acar T Baris S Yildiz M Sever C Bilgi M . Lower recurrence rate with full-thickness mesh fixation in incisional hernia repair. Hernia (2015) 19:927–33. 10.1007/s10029-015-1355-825716615 Juvany M Hoyuela C Carvajal F Trias M Martrat A Ardid J. Long-term follow-up (at 5 years) of midline incisional hernia repairs using a primary closure and prosthetic onlay technique: recurrence and quality of life. Hernia (2018) 22:319–24. 10.1007/s10029-018-1730-329349615 Tuveri M Tuveri A Nicolò E. Repair of large abdominal incisional hernia by reconstructing the midline and use of an onlay on biological material. Am J Surg. (2011) 202:e7–11. 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2010.06.00521600554 Machairas A Misiakos E Liakakos T Karatzas G. Incisional hernioplasty with extraperitoneal onlay polyester mesh. Am Surg. (2004) 70:726–9. 15328809 Memon AA Khan A Zafar H Murtaza G Zaidi M. Repair of large and giant incisional hernia with onlay mesh: perspective of a tertiary care hospital of a developing country. Int J Surg. (2013) 11:41–5. 10.1016/j.ijsu.2012.11.00623178155 den Hartog D Tulnebreijer WE. Open surgical procedures for incisional hernias. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (2008) 16:CD006438. 10.1002/14651858.CD006438 Köhler I Sauerland S Meyer A Saad S Schüller BK Knaebel HP . Mesh implantation in onlay or sublay-technique for closure of median ventral hernias: first results of a randomized clinical trial. In: Poster Presented at the Congress of the German Surgical Association. Munich (2005). Baracs J Wéber G Takacs I Horváth ÖP. Results of open mesh versus suture repair in treatment of abdominal wall hernias (multicentric, prospective, randomized, internet-based clinical trial). In: Poster 29th International Congress of the European Hernia Society (Athens) (2007). Hawn MT Snyder CW Graham LA Gray SH Finan KR Vick CC. Long-term follow-up of technical outcomes for incisional hernia repair. J Am Coll Surg. (2010) 210: 648–57. 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2009.12.03820421023 Köckerling F Schug-Pass C Scheuerlein H. What is the current knowledge about sublay/retro-rectus repair of incisional hernias? Front Surg. (2018) 5:47. 10.3389/fsurg.2018.0004730151365 Gurusamy KS Allen VB. Wound drains after incisional hernia repair. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (2013) 12:CD005570. 10.1002/14651858.CD005570.pub2 Krpata DM Prabhu AS Carbonell AM Haskins UN Phillips S Poulouse BK . Drain placement does not increase infectious complications after retromuscular ventral hernia repair with synthetic mesh: an AHSQC analysis. J Gastrintest Surg. (2017) 21:2083–9. 10.1007/s11605-017-3601-028983795 Rothman JP Gunnarsoon U Bisgaard T. Abdominal binders may reduce pain and improve physical function after major abdominal surgery – a systematic review. Dan Med J. (2014) 61:A4941. 25370959 Köhler G Koch OO Antoniou SA Lechner M Mayer F Emmanuel K. Prevention of subcutaneous seroma formation in open ventral hernia repair using a new low-thrombin fibrin sealant. World J Surg. (2014) 38:2797–803. 10.1007/s00268-014-2691-z24981370