Incidence and risk factors for umbilical trocar site hernia after laparoscopic TAPP repair. A single high-volume center experience

Background Trocar site hernia (TSH) is often underestimated after minimally invasive surgery. Scarce information is available about the incidence of TSH in patients undergoing laparoscopic hernioplasty. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of umbilical TSH after laparoscopic TAPP hernioplasty in patients with and without an associated umbilical hernia. Methods A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of all patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal TAPP repair during 2013–2018 was performed. After TAPP repair, the umbilical fascia was closed either by a figure-of-eight stitch with absorbable suture (G1) or by umbilical hernioplasty if it was present (G2). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the TSH risk factors. Comparative evaluation regarding demographics, and operative and postoperative variables was performed. Results A total of 535 laparoscopic TAPP repairs were included. There were 359 (67.1%) patients in G1 and 176 in G2 (32.9%). Surgical site infection was higher in G2 (G1: 0.6% vs G2: 5.7%, p = 0.001). Overall TSH rate was 3.9% after a mean follow-up of 20 (12–41) months. Performing a concomitant umbilical repair significantly increased the risk of umbilical TSH (G1: 2.2% vs G2: 7.4%, p = 0.004). TSH rates in G2 were similar in patients with simple suture or mesh repairs ( p = 0.88). Rectus abdominis diastasis (OR 37.8, 95% CI:8.22–174.0, p