Watchful Waiting of Incisional Hernias

This study is being conducted to gain a better understanding of the quality of life for patients with a diagnosis of primary and recurrent incisional hernias and 1) who decline to have surgery to repair the hernia or 2) patients who cannot have surgery because their health will not allow them or 3O if surgery to repair the hernia is completed. A comparison will be made between those who receive surgery and those who do not.

This study is being conducted to gain a better understanding of the quality of life for patients with a diagnosis of primary and recurrent incisional hernias and 1) who decline to have surgery to repair the hernia or 2) patients who cannot have surgery because their health will not allow them or 3O if surgery to repair the hernia is completed. A comparison will be made between those who receive surgery and those who do not. Subjects will fill out three survey forms on quality of life and pain at baseline and again at six and 12 months. Measurements of change in hernia size will be made, life-style changes such as smoking cessation, weight-loss, tighter control of diabetes will be initiated for outcome comparison with controls.

Inclusion Criteria: abdominal hernia greater than 3 cm2 18 years of age able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: abdominal hernia less than 3 cm2 or greater than 127 cm2 unable to return to clinic for follow-up visits