Poster (15W130)

Incisional Hernia and Diverticular Disease: A Correlation Analysis

Author(s)

I. O’Riordan, T. Connolly, P. Wrafter, WA Kolton, WP Joyce

Department(s)/Institutions

Galway Clinic, RCSI and Penn State Hershey Medical Centre

Introduction

Recent data suggests that there is a genetic cause of diverticular disease (DV) related to poor wound healing and some connective tissue disorders. We have therefore evaluated the correlation of postoperative incisional hernia (IH) in a large cohort of patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and complicated DV

Method

We have reviewed the data from a prospective database involving major colorectal surgery from a single surgeon’s department over 11 consecutive years. This involved 370 consecutive patients from 2004- 2015 (to date). The ratio of colorectal cancer resections to resections for complicated diverticular disease was 2:1. All patients were reviewed for a minimum of 1 year (Range: 1-11 years). All relevant post operative CTs were also reviewed for incidence of incisional hernia.

Results

Overall incidence of IH in both groups was 18%. In patients who had resections for complicated diverticular disease the rate of IH was 34%. The overall incidence in patients undergoing resections for colorectal cancer was 8%. This gives an odds ratio of 3.48 (95% CI 1.32-9.17, p= 0.01) for the development of an incisional hernia following resection for diverticular disease vs colorectal cancer

Conclusions

The data presented suggests a significant link between the presence of DV and the development of a post op IH. This may well influence developing specific wound strategies in patients undergoing surgery for major complicated diverticular disease.