Trocar Site Incisional Hernia Prevention

Objective: To test the preventive effect of the placement of an onlay mesh versus the use of a fascial closure device at the umbilical trocar site closure in order to prevent incisional hernia after laparoscopic surgery.

Methods: We designed a Two Center Randomized Controlled Trial were adult participants presenting for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with or without an exploration of the common bile duct will be recruited, with allocation of each of them in 2 groups (prosthesis and control). Abdominal ultrasound scan focused on aponeurosis defects at the trocar sites will be performed at 12 postoperative months.

An ultrasound scan will be performed to avoid underdiagnosis bias since incisional hernia is frequently under detected by clinical examination.

Relevance: The prevalence of incisional hernia after laparoscopy might be as high as 30%, due to this reason is paramount to find a better closure technique.

There are few studies about incisional hernia including radiological exams in order to provide the exact prevalence of this pathology, even fewer literature exists about incisional hernia after laparoscopic procedures.