LAUSR

Immunosuppressive medication might increase the likelihood of wound morbidity, with possible higher rate of surgical site infections (SSIs). We aim to identify short-term outcomes and hospital stay after incisional hernia repair with transversus abdominis release (TAR) in patients with versus without immunosuppression. All patients undergoing open incisional abdominal wall hernia repair with uni-or bilateral TAR from January 2021 through November 2022 were identified using a prospectively maintained database. Minimum follow-up was 30 days. Outcomes included 30-day SSIs, seroma rate, hospital stay, and early recurrence. Twenty-seven patients with immunosuppressive medication were identified and 75 without (mean age 59.0 ± 13.9 vs. 65.1 ± 11.4, 74.1% vs. 46.7% male, respectively). Median hernia width was 7.7 ± 5.1 cm vs. 7.9 ± 4.3 cm respectively. At 30 days follow-up, SSI rate was 1/27 (3.7%) in the group under immunosuppression and 5/75 (6.7%) in the group without (p = 0.575). Seroma rate was 3/27 (11.1%) vs. 12/75 (16.0%), respectively (p = 0.539). Mean hospital stay was 6.0 ± 3.6 days in the immunosuppression group vs 8.1 ± 6.7 days in the group without (p = 0.052). No early recurrences were detected in either group. Immunosuppression does not significantly increase the risk of short-term complications in incisional hernia repair with transversus abdominis release. There is a trend towards a shorter hospital stay in patients under immunosuppression, possibly related to a reduced inflammatory response.