Surgical treatment of subcostal incisional hernia with polypropylene mesh - analysis of late results

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of subcostal incisional hernia repair using polypropylene mesh, the technical aspects of musculo-aponeurotic reconstruction, routine fixation of supra-aponeurotic mesh and follow-up for five years.METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study that assessed 24 patients undergoing subcostal incisional hernia repair with use of polypropylene mesh; 15 patients (62.5%) were female; ages ranged from 33 to 82, and 79.1% had comorbidities.RESULTS: Early complications: three cases (12.5%) of wound infection, three cases (12.5%) of seroma, one case (4.1%) of hematoma; and one case (4.1%) of wound dehiscence. Late complications occurred in one case (4.1%) of hernia recurrence attributed to technical failure in the fixation of the mesh and in one case (4.1%) of chronic pain. There were no cases of exposure or rejection of the mesh.CONCLUSION: The subcostal incisional hernia, though not very relevant, requires adequate surgical treatment. Its surgical correction involves rebuilding the muscle-aponeurotic defect, supra-aponeurotic fixation of polypropylene mesh, with less complexity and lower rates of complications and recurrences.