Purpose: Posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release (TAR) enables medial myofascial flap advancement in complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Here, we add to a growing body of literature on TAR by assessing longitudinal clinical and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after complex ventral hernia repair (VHR) with TAR.
Methods: Adult patients undergoing VHR with TAR between 10/15/2015 and 1/15/2020 were retrospectively identified. Patients with parastomal hernias and <12 months of follow-up were excluded. Clinical outcomes and PROs were assessed.
Results: Fifty-six patients were included with a median age and body mass index of 60 and 30.8 kg/m2, respectively. The average hernia defect was 384 cm2 [IQR 205-471], and all patients had retromuscular mesh placed. The most common complications were delayed healing (19.6%) and seroma (14.3%). There were no cases of mesh infection or explantation. Previous hernia repair and concurrent panniculectomy were risk factors for developing complications (P < .05). One patient (1.8%) recurred at a median follow-up of 25.2 months [IQR 18.2-42.4]. Significant improvement in disease-specific PROs was maintained throughout the follow-up period (before to after P < .05).
Conclusion: Transversus abdominis release is a safe and efficacious technique to achieve fascial closure and retromuscular mesh in the repair of complex hernia defects.
Keywords: patient-reported outcomes; quality of life; transversus abdominis release; ventral hernia; ventral hernia repair.