American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Sep 2016
Multicenter StudyDoes pregnancy increase the risk of abdominal hernia recurrence after prepregnancy surgical repair?
By increasing intraabdominal pressure, pregnancy may increase the risk of abdominal hernia recurrence. Current data are limited to studies with small sample size and thus the impact of pregnancy on recurrence is unclear. ⋯ Pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of abdominal hernia recurrence after adjusting for confounding factors. The magnitude of this association is likely underestimated, given that the risk of recurrence was defined as reoperation, which captures only the most clinically significant group of recurrences. This information will facilitate counseling for reproductive-aged women planning elective ventral or incisional hernia repair. The risk of recurrence and subsequent reoperation should be balanced against the risk of incarceration and emergent surgery during pregnancy. As such, the desire for future pregnancy and/or contraception should be considered when planning asymptomatic hernia repair for women of reproductive age.