Concurrent Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair with Bariatric Surgery: a Propensity-Matched Analysis

Background Ventral hernias are a common finding during bariatric surgery; however, the risks and benefits of repair during surgery remain unclear. Using the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database, we examined the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing bariatric surgery with concurrent ventral hernia repair (VHR) versus bariatric surgery alone. Methods Patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) were included. A propensity-matched analysis was performed between laparoscopic bariatric surgery with and without concurrent VHR. The primary outcome was the 30-day major complication rate which includes but is not limited to 30-day reoperation, deep surgical site infection, and sepsis. Secondary outcomes included operative time, length of hospital stay, 30-day readmission, and 30-day mortality. Results A total of 430,225 patients were included, of which 4690 (1.1%) received concomitant VHR. With one-to-one propensity score matching, 4648 pairs were selected. Concurrent VHR was associated with a higher major complication rate (5.8 vs 3.8%, p