Ventral Hernia Repair: Compare the Outcomes of Onlay Versus Sublay Mesh Procedure

Abstract

Objective: To examine the outcomes of onlay mesh technique and sublay mesh technique in patients undergoing 
ventral hernia repair and compare the findings between both procedures. 
Study Design: Randomized control study. 
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, CMH Lahore from 
August 2017 to July 2018. 
Methods: One hundred and forty patients of both genders having ages 18 to 70 years who were undergoing ventral 
hernia repair were included. Patients were equally divided into two groups Group A and Group B. Group A patients 
received onlay mesh technique and Group B received sublay technique. Outcomes such as post-operative pain, 
wound infection, seroma formation and hospital stay were recorded and the results compared between both groups.  
Results: There were 39 (55.71%) and 37 (52.86%) female patients in Group A and B respectively. Paraumbilical 
hernia was the commonest type between both groups. There was significant difference in terms of post-operative 
pain 5.23+1.54 vs 3.01+1.01 (P-value <0.05), wound infection found in 11 (15.71%) vs 5 (7.14%) patients in both 
groups. 6 (8.57%) patients in Group A and 2 (2.86%) patients in Group B  had seroma formation (p=<0.05). Mean 
Hospital stay in days was high in Group A patients compared to Group B 4.01+1.95 vs 2.01+0.65 (p=<0.05). 
Conclusion: Sublay mesh technique for ventral hernia repair was safe and effective with very low rate of 
complications as compared to onlay mesh procedure.