Concomitant Panniculectomy in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction: A Narrative Review Focusing on Obese Patients

TL;DR

This review examines the role of panniculectomy during abdominal wall reconstruction in obese patients, highlighting increased complication risks but no significant impact on hernia recurrence.

Contribution

The paper provides a focused narrative review on the specific role and risks of concomitant panniculectomy in obese patients undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction.

Findings

Obese patients undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction face higher wound healing complications and hernia recurrence.

Concurrent panniculectomy increases surgical site complications but does not significantly affect hernia recurrence rates.

Physicians should carefully weigh and communicate the risks of combined procedures to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Abstract

The global prevalence of obesity continues to rise, contributing to an increased frequency of abdominal wall reconstruction procedures, particularly ventral hernia repairs, in individuals with elevated body mass indexes. Undertaking these operations in obese patients poses inherent challenges. This review focuses on the current literature in this area, with special attention to the impact of concomitant panniculectomy. Obese individuals undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction face elevated rates of wound healing complications and hernia recurrence. The inclusion of concurrent panniculectomy heightens the risk of surgical site occurrences but does not significantly influence hernia recurrence rates. While this combined approach can be executed in obese patients, caution is warranted, due to the higher risk of complications. Physicians should carefully balance and communicate the potential risks, especially regarding the increased likelihood of wound healing complications. Acknowledging these factors is crucial in shared decision making and ensuring optimal patient outcomes in the context of abdominal wall reconstruction and related procedures in the obese population.

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