ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the effects of biological mesh (BM) and non-absorbable synthetic mesh (SM) on the risks of recurrence, complications, and cost-effectiveness after ventral hernia repair. MethodsThe publicly published related researches of BM versus SM for ventral hernia repair were searched in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM databases from the establishment of the databases to August 1, 2021. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the literatures were screened and the data were extracted, and the data that met the conditions were merged and analyzed. The meta-analysis was performed by RevMan5.4.1 software. ResultsA total of 26 studies with 3 259 patients were included, including 1 388 patients in the BM group and 1 871 in the SM group. The results of meta-analysis showed that the recurrence, surgical site infection, surgical site occurrence, reoperation rates, and medical costs in the BM group were higher than those in the SM group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the patch infection, seroma, hematoma, wound dehiscence, and readmission rates between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionsSM during ventral hernia repair is better than BM on postoperative recurrence, surgical site infection, surgical site occurrence, reoperation, etc., and could reduce medical costs. In the future, it is tried to use more SM in patients with complicated ventral hernia such as cleaning pollution and contaminated environment.
Objective To compare the clinical effectiveness of different skin closure techniques in stoma reversal using network meta-analysis. Methods CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, CBM, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched until February 1, 2021, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing outcomes between different skin closure techniques were included. Data were processed using Stata MP16.0 and R 3.6.1. Results The results demonstrated that 16 RCTs (n=2 139) were eligible for pooling. Six types of skin closure techniques were used: linear closure, purse-string closure, gunsight closure, linear closure and drainage, purse-string closure and drainage, and linear closure and biological mesh. Network meta-analysis indicated that the incidence of postoperative infection with linear closure was higher than that with purse-string closure [RR=6.04, 95%CI (3.11, 16.89), P<0.0001], gunsight closure [RR=10.75, 95%CI (1.12, 152.12), P=0.04], and linear closure and drainage [RR=3.18, 95%CI (1.24, 10.20), P=0.03]. The purse-string closure was superior to linear closure and biological mesh [RR=0.15, 95%CI (0.01, 0.88), P=0.03] in reducing postoperative infection. The length of hospital stay after linear suture was longer than that after linear suture and drainage [MD=1.16, 95%CI (0.29, 2.20), P=0.02]. Conclusions This network meta-analysis suggests that purse-string closure and gunsight closure might be best for reducing postoperative infection, and the addition of drainage could not further reduce the incidence of postoperative infection. In addition, implantation of the biological mesh does not increase the risk of postoperative infection. However, a large-scale RCT is warranted to confirm the results.
Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of different mesh fixation techniques in laparoscopic trans-abdominal preperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP) by using network meta-analysis. Methods CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, CBM, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were retrieved to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studies comparing different fixation methods of patches in laparoscopic TAPP. The retrieval time limit was from the establishment of the database to March 1, 2022. After two researchers independently screened the literatures, extracted the data, and evaluated the bias risk, Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted by using R4.1.2 software. Results Twenty-nine RCTs were included, including 4 095 patients. The results of network meta-analysis showed that the risk of chronic postoperative inguinal pain was higher in staples fixation than that of no fixation [OR=0.06, 95%CI (0.01, 0.26), P＜0.001], glue fixation [OR=0.21, 95%CI (0.04, 0.53), P=0.001] and self-gripping mesh [OR=0.09, 95%CI (0.01, 0.52), P=0.009], the incidence of chronic postoperative inguinal pain with suture fixation was higher than that with no fixation [OR=0.10, 95%CI (0.01, 0.70), P= 0.020]. Postoperative visual analogue scale of staples fixation was higher than those of no fixation [MD=–0.90, 95%CI (–1.49, –0.33), P=0.002] and glue fixation [MD=–0.92, 95%CI (–1.35, –0.49), P＜0.001], the postoperative visual analogue scale with suture fixation was higher than those of no fixation [MD=–0.83, 95%CI (–1.61, –0.08), P=0.030] and glue fixation [MD=–0.85, 95%CI (–1.56, –0.13), P=0.020]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of seroma and hematoma, hospital stay and hernia recurrence among different fixation methods. Conclusions The network meta-analysis shows that medical glue and self-gripping mesh have certain advantages in reducing chronic pain after surgery, which may be the better patch fixation method in TAPP. The non fixation mesh will not increase the risk of postoperative recurrence, and can be used in clinical practice. This conclusion needs to be further verified by large sample, long-term follow-up and high-quality RCTs.