Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35059834›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2022

Multicenter analysis of laparoscopic versus open umbilical hernia repair with mesh: outcomes and quality of life (QoL).

Sharbel A Elhage, Caleb T Pflederer, Sullivan A Ayuso, Jenny M Shao, Eva B Deerenberg, David Ku, Paul D Colavita, Vedra A Augenstein, B Todd Heniford

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Laparoscopic versus open repair for umbilical hernia: outcomes and complications.Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Observational
  3. Umbilical hernia repair by the eTEP, a reproducible and valuable technique.Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery · 2025
    Article
  4. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Sharbel A ElhageGastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Caleb T PfledererGastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Sullivan A AyusoGastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Jenny M ShaoDivision of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Eva B DeerenbergDepartment of Surgery, Franciscus Gasthuis en Vlietland, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
David KuGastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Paul D ColavitaGastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Vedra A AugensteinGastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
B Todd HenifordGastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA. todd.heniford@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionUmbilical hernia repair (UHR) is a common operation with varying surgical approaches. Laparoscopic (LUHR) and open (OUHR) operations are routinely performed, but their impact on quality of life (QoL) is not well described. Our aim was to evaluate perioperative outcomes and QoL of LUHR versus OUHR.

methodsThe prospectively collected International Hernia Mesh Registry was queried for patients undergoing UHR with mesh placement. QoL was measured using the Carolinas Comfort Scale preoperatively and 1, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Propensity match was performed controlling for hernia defect size (HDS), recurrent hernias, and BMI.

results585 patients underwent 178 (30.4%) LUHR and 407 (69.6%) OUHR. LUHR patients had higher BMI, larger HDS, and more recurrent hernias (p < 0.05). Rates of other comorbidities were similar (p > 0.05). Tacks were used more frequently in LUHR (91.6% vs 1.7%, p < 0.001), and suture was used more often in OUHR (97.1% vs 47.8%, p < 0.001). Postoperative outcomes were similar (p > 0.05) except LUHR had higher rates of seroma (13.9% vs 4.3%, p < 0.001). Overall recurrence rates trended to favor OUHR, but not significantly (4.7% vs 8.4%, p = 0.07). The propensity match yielded 138 matched pairs. LUHR had more seromas and OUHR had higher infection rates (p < 0.05). Hernia recurrence was higher following LUHR (9.4% vs 2.9%, p = 0.02). QoL data were available for an average of 457 patients at each time period. QoL was superior in the OUHR group for pain and overall QoL at each time point and activity limitations at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.05). When examining patients who were asymptomatic preoperatively, OUHR had improved one-month overall QoL, but both groups had over 90% of patients report being asymptomatic postoperatively.

conclusionsOUHR is associated with higher rates of surgical site infections, but significantly lower rates of seroma formation and hernia recurrence compared to LUHR, while having superior QoL in both short- and long-term follow-up. Asymptomatic patients tend to have excellent QoL outcomes.

Indexed as

Hernia, UmbilicalHernia, VentralLaparoscopyHerniorrhaphyHumansQuality of LifeRecurrenceSeromaSurgical MeshHerniaLaparoscopicMeshQuality of lifeUmbilical herniaUmbilical hernia repair

Identifiers

PMID35059834

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.