Botulinum toxin to avoid component separation in midline large hernias.

[BACKGROUND] The goal of our study was to compare results in patients with large midline incisional hernia using modified anterior component separation versus preoperative botulinum toxin and following Rives repair, with a focus on surgical site occurrences, possibility of fascial closure, duration of hospital stay, and hernia recurrence rate.

[METHODS] From to March 2016 to June 2019, a prospective comparative study was performed in 80 consecutive patients with large midline incisional hernias and hernia transverse diameters between 11 and 17 cm under elective hernia repair at our tertiary center. Two groups were analyzed prospectively: 40 patients with preoperative botulinum toxin administration and following open Rives repair (botulinum toxin group) were compared with 40 patients who underwent open component separation during that period (component separation group).

[RESULTS] All large midline incisional hernias were classified W3, with mean transverse and longitudinal defect diameters of 14.9 cm (11.8-16.5) and 24 cm (11-28), respectively. Complete fascial closure was possible in all patients in the preoperative botulinum toxin group. No complications occurred during the administration of preoperative botulinum toxin, but surgical site complications were most frequent in the component separation group, especially skin necrosis (12.5%, P = .020). At a median of 19.6 months (range, 11-35) of postoperative follow-up, 2 cases of hernia recurrence (8.9%) were reported, all of them in the component separation group.

[CONCLUSION] Botulinum toxin allows getting a successful downstaging from surgical repair to Rives technique in patients with large midline incisional hernia, especially with hernia transverse diameters between 11 and 17 cm. These results contribute to minimize disadvantages associated to the anterior component separation.