Usefulness of a Prothetic Absorbable Mesh in Incisional Hernia Prevention After Midline Laparotomy (PREBIOUS)

PREBIOUS Trial : A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Preventive Midline Laparotomy Closure With a Bioabsorbable Mesh for the Prevention of Incisional Hernia.

Background: Development of an incisional hernia is one of the most frequent complications of midline laparotomies requiring reoperation. This paper presents the rationale, design, and study protocol for a randomized controlled trial, the aim of which was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactically placing a bioabsorbable synthetic mesh for reinforcement of a midline fascial closure. Methods: The PREBIOUS trial (PREventive midline laparotomy closure with a BIOabsorbable mesh) is a multicenter randomized controlled trial in which adult patients undergoing elective or urgent open abdominal operations through a midline laparotomy incision are assigned to one of two groups based on the laparotomy closure procedure: an intervention group in which a continuous polydioxanone (PDS) suture is reinforced with a commercially available GORE® BIO-A® Tissue Reinforcement prosthesis (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA), or a control group with continuous PDS suture only. Both groups are followed over 6 months. Outcomes: The primary outcome is the appearance of incisional hernias assessed by physical examination at clinical visits and radiologically (CT scan) performed at the end of follow-up. Secondary outcomes are the rate of complications, mainly infection, hematoma, burst abdomen, pain, and reoperation. The PREBIOUS trial has the potential to demonstrate that suture plus prosthetic mesh insertion for routine midline laparotomy closure is effective in preventing incisional hernias after open abdominal surgery, to avoid the effects on those affected, such as poor cosmesis, social embarrassment, or impaired quality of life, and to save costs potentially associated with incisional hernia surgical repair.

Laparotomy closure will be done by continuous PDS suture following a SL:WL ratio of 4:1 only is used for midline laparotomy closure.

Closure of the midline laparotomy incision is reinforced with insertion of a rectangular segment (1 cm wide and the length corresponding to the incision) of a prosthetic commercially available GORE® BIO-A® Tissue Reinforcement prosthesis (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA) mesh. The BIO-A® prosthesis is inserted using a "sandwich" method between the edges of the incision and maintained in situ with a continuous polydioxanone (PDS) suture following a suture length to wound length (SL:WL) ratio of 4:1.

GORE® BIO-A® Tissue Reinforcement prosthesis, (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA) mesh., LNE/G-MED (CE) 0459

At the end of the follow up (6 Months) a CT scan will be done. Radiologically the incisional hernia is defined as a solution of continuity of the linea alba seen on the abdominal CT scan with the patient at rest. The radiologist is blinded to the patient's history and the technique used for midline fascial closure.

The presence of incisional hernia was evaluated by physical examination at scheduled clinical visits (3 and 6 months after surgery) Clinically, an incisional hernia is defined as the presence of a reducible bulge or protrusion at the laparotomy incision scar, palpable during the Valsalva maneuver.

The primary endpoint is the incidence of incisional hernia, either symptomatic or asymptomatic in the mesh and suture-only groups. Because appearance of an incisional hernia occurs within the first months after laparotomy, assessment of efficacy was carried out during scheduled clinical visits over a period of 6 months. The presence of incisional hernia was evaluated by physical examination at scheduled clinical visits and radiologically by an abdominal CT scan performed at the end of follow-up (6 months after operation).

Secondary endpoints are perioperative complications, including wound infection, hematoma, eventration, pain, reoperation.

Inclusion Criteria: Adults aged 18 years or older, Signed informed consent, Patients undergoing elective or urgent open abdominal surgical procedures regardless of benign or malignant disease. Exclusion Criteria: Presence of primary or recurrent incisional hernia Expected survival < 12 months.