Anterior component separation versus posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release for large ventral hernias: a randomized controlled study.

The aim of this study was to analyze outcomes of open anterior component separation technique (ACST) and posterior component separation technique with transversus abdominis release (TAR) for midline large ventral hernias. From December 2016 to July 2022, patients over 18 years of age, who underwent elective surgery for midline large ventral hernia via open component separation technique (ACST and TAR), were enrolled in this study. Preoperative and intraoperative factors, also hospital stay days, Surgical Site Occurrences (SSO), hernia recurrence and quality of life (QoL) were determined in ACST and TAR groups. To determine QoL we used the Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS). Data of 43 patients (22 patients from ACST group and 21-from TAR group) were analyzed. Bivariate analysis showed that the proportions of SSO in TAR group (4 out of 21; 19%) was significantly lower than in ACST group (11 out of 22; 50%) (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.07-3.24, p = 0.033). Seroma was the most frequent SSO, ranging from 9.5% to 40.9% among the groups, respectively (P = 0.018). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of surgical site infection (SSI), hematoma, wound dehiscence, skin necrosis, hernia recurrence and QoL. Our study revealed that when comparing the ACST and TAR groups for large midline ventral hernia, there was no significant difference in terms of hernia recurrence and QoL. TAR was associated with significantly less SSO than ACST. This can be considered as an advantage of TAR, making it more preferable than ACST.