28 Feb 2025 • Prophylactic mesh augmentation lowered the three-year incisional hernia (IH) rate from 39.6% to 13.2% compared to primary sutured closure, with a hazard ratio of 0.25, and a number needed to treat of 3.7.

While prophylactic mesh augmentation was associated with a longer operative time (27 minutes) and more seroma formation (particularly with onlay prophylactic mesh augmentation), it did not increase the risk of surgical site infections.

This robust evidence supports prophylactic mesh augmentation as a valuable preventive strategy for IH in high-risk abdominal surgery patients.

Source: Annals of Surgery | Read Full Story