Parastomal hernia repair outcomes: A nine-year experience

Parastomal hernias (PHs) frequently complicate enterostomy creation. Decision for PH repair (PHR) is driven by patient symptoms due to the frequency of complications and recurrences. The European Hernia Society (EHS) PH classification is based on the PH defect size and the presence/ absence of concomitant incisional hernia. The aim of this study was to evaluate PHR outcomes based on EHS classification. An Institutional Review Board–approved retrospective review of a prospective database between 2009 and 2017 was performed. Patient demographics, enterostomy type, EHS classification, operative technique, and clinical outcomes (postoperative complications, 30-day readmission, and PH recurrence) were obtained. Cases were analyzed by EHS classifications I and II (SmallPH) versus III and IV (LargePH). Sixty-two patients underwent PHR (35: SmallPH, 27: LargePH). Patient groups (SmallPH vs LargePH) were similar based on American Society of Anesthesiologists Class III and obesity. Hernia recurrence was seen in 26 per cent of repairs with no difference between groups. The median recurrence-free survival was 3.9 years. There was no difference in superficial SSI, deep SSI, nonwound complications, or readmission between SmallPH and LargePH. Both small and large PHs experience similar outcomes after repair. Strategies to improve outcomes should be developed and implemented universally across all EHS PH classes.