Nationwide cohort study on women undergoing epigastric hernia repair

Women have the highest prevalence of epigastric hernia repair. Outcomes after epigastric hernia repair are rarely reported independently, although pathology and surgical techniques may be different than for other primary ventral hernias.

The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes after epigastric hernia repairs in women on a nationwide basis.

Methods Nationwide cohort study from the Danish Hernia Database. Complete data from women undergoing elective epigastric hernia repair during a 12-year period (2007-2018) was extracted. A 100% follow-up was obtained by combining data from the National Civil Register. The primary outcome was operation for recurrence, secondary outcomes were readmission and operation for complications. Outcomes for open sutured repair, open mesh repair mesh, and laparoscopic repairs were compared.

Inclusion Criteria:

• females undergoing epigastric hernia repair in Denmark

Exclusion Criteria:

• emergency repair umbilical hernias incisional hernias males

gender identity

females in Denmark undergoing epigastric hernia repair