Initial results of the National Registry of Incisional Hernia.

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to the data from the National Registry of Incisional Hernia (EVEREG) to determine the reality of the treatment of this condition in Spain. Methods EVEREG is an online prospective database which has been functioning since July 2012; operations for incisional hernia are anonymously recorded. Results Up to March 2015, 4501 hernias from 95 of the 113 participating hospitals were registered. The mean age of the patients was 62.7, and 56.5% were women, with a mean BMI of 30.2 kg/m 2 ; 29.8% presented a high surgical risk (ASA III – V ). A total of 93.7% were scheduled surgeries, 88.3% open surgery and 22.2% were recurrent incisional hernias. There were 66.9% hernias after a midline laparotomy, and 81.4% of a transverse diameter of less than 10 cm. A mesh was used in 96.2% of cases. Postoperative stay was 5.3 days and 29.1% presented a complication, with a mortality of 0.8%. After a median follow-up of 7.7 months a high rate of recurrence was detected (20.7% per year), especially in hernias that were operated on after a previous repair (18.1% primary vs. 30.6% recurrent; P =.004). Conclusion The EVEREG registry is a useful tool to know the current situation of incisional hernia treatment. Analysis of the data shows several points that could be improved: a low rate of follow-up and high recurrence rate.