LAUSR

Evaluate whether diastasis recti is an independent risk factor for recurrence after umbilical hernia repair. Retrospective cohort study based on patients operated on for primary umbilical hernia between 2015–2017. Inclusion criteria were umbilical hernia repair with previous computed tomography scan, without diastasis repair and follow-up of at least two years. Rectus diastasis was defined as a separation >2,5 cm. Different variables were analyzed to assess their influence on hernia recurrence, with diastasis recti being our main factor to evaluate. Demographic characteristics, hernia size, type of hernia repair, postoperative complications and long-term recurrence were recorded. 458 patients underwent umbilical hernia repair during the study period, 70 patients (15,28%) met the inclusion criteria and were selected. The mean age was 57.08 years and 42.9% were women. The mean diameter of the hernia defect was 2.26 cm. 67.1% of the sample presented diastasis with a mean size of 3.78 cm. Female sex(p=0.04), diabetes(p=0.16) and diastasis recti(p=0.05) present a statistically significant relationship with the development of recurrence after umbilical hernia repair. We obtained that female sex(p=0,029) and diabetes(p=0,16) significantly increase the recurrence development. Meanwhile, we cannot affirm that diastasis acts as an independently risk factor(p=0,058),since it has been influenced by these variables. We obtained that diabetes and female sex independently influence the development of recurrence after umbilical hernia. We have not been able to demonstrate that diastasis is a risk factor by itself for the appearance of recurrence, although we did find a trend towards statistical significance.