Does quality of life improve after complex incisional hernia repair? A systematic review

Introduction Health-related quality of life (QoL) is an essential patient-reported outcome in abdominal wall surgery. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate short term outcome of QoL after complex incisional hernia repair (IHR), focusing on open surgery. Methods A multi-database systematic search was performed on patients treated for complex IHR. Studies evaluating the outcome in terms of QoL using validated questionnaires, at least three months postoperatively, were included. The methodology was graded, and patients' operative and outcome details were extracted. Results Seven studies were included, encompassing 729 patients, all of whom underwent an open approach. A significant increase in QoL was found in all types of questionnaires (Short Form-36 (SF-36), Carolinas Comfort Scale, Hernia Related QoL, and Numeric Rating Scale). SF-36 was used most frequently. A pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.70 (95% CI: 0.08-1.47 p < 0.00001) was yielded, indicating a moderate to large effect of the intervention compared to preoperative scores. Conclusion A limited number of studies have included QoL measurement after incisional hernia repair. In all studies, a significant increase was seen in QoL postoperatively. This review highlights the substantial benefits of open surgery in improving QoL, while emphasizing the need for further research to standardize outcome measurement and explore long-term results.