Abdominal Wall Reconstruction in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Single Center Experience

Lavinia Anzai MD1; Jenn Park BS1; David Daar MD, MBA1; Jamie Levine MD1

1Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY

 

Background: Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) suffer from complex ventral hernias, owing to extensive surgical histories, poor nutritional status and use of immunomodulatory agents. We report a single institution experience on abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) in patients with IBD. 

 

Methods: 

Following IRB approval, a single institution, retrospective review was performed of all patients with IBD undergoing AWR from December 2016-May 2022. Patient demographics, operative characteristics and postoperative outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results:

Postoperatively, 7 (12.1%) patients experienced major complications; 6 patients required return to the operating room for abscess drainage (3), small bowel obstruction/perforation (2), or ileostomy revision (1), and 1 patient had sepsis and liver failure requiring prolonged care.

 

Minor complications were seen in 19 (32.8%) patients, with most common reasons being ileus or high ostomy output (13), superficial surgical site infection (3) and incisional breakdown or wound dehiscence (3).

 

Conclusions:

AWR in the IBD patient population can be performed with low rates of plastic surgery-related complications. Furthermore, the majority of AWRs were performed without mesh without compromising hernia recurrence rates.