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Purpose: Despite efforts to minimize opioid prescribing, outpatient ventral hernia repair (VHR) with mesh remains notoriously painful, often requiring postoperative opioid analgesia. Here, we aim to characterize patterns of opioid prescribing for the heterogenous group of patients and procedures that comprise mesh-based, outpatient VHR., Methods: The Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative registry was queried for patients undergoing VHR with mesh who were discharged the same or next day between January 2019 to October 2023. Procedures were broadly classified by approach and mesh location: open, minimally-invasive with intraperitoneal mesh (MIP), and minimally-invasive with retromuscular or preperitoneal mesh (MRPP). Surgeon-reported opioid prescription quantity and patient-reported 30-day consumption data were reviewed., Results: Of 2,795 patients who met inclusion criteria (46.1% open, 22.7% MIP, 31.2% MRPP), approximately 80% of patients consumed ≤ 10 tablets of opioid pain medication (open 87.7%, MIP 78.4%, MRPP 84.2%). For patients who were prescribed ≤ 10 tablets, the median number of unconsumed tablets was 5 (IQR 0-8). For patients who were prescribed > 10 tablets, the median number of unconsumed tablets was 10 or more (open 10 [IQR 2-16], MIP 10 [IQR 2-18], MRPP 12 [IQR 5-16]). The number of tablets consumed was positively correlated with the number of tablets prescribed (Kendall's rank correlation = 0.232, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Regardless of technique, for outpatient VHR with mesh, the fewer opioid tablets prescribed, the fewer tablets patients consumed. Decreasing the prescription quantity to ≤ 10 tablets, coupled with preoperative patient education, may help minimize excess opioid prescribing while still achieving adequate pain control., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: Kimberly P. Woo, Xinyan Zheng, Amitabh P. Goel, Anthony A. Iacco, Todd S. Harris, and Michael Reinhorn declare that they have no conflict of interest. Rana M. Higgins, MD is a speaker for WL Gore and Intuitive Surgical. Jeremy A. Warren, MD is a consultant for Intuitive Surgical and a speaker Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson. Clayton C. Petro, MD is a consultant for Advanced Medical Solutions, TelaBio, Medtronic, BD, Surgimatix and received an institutional grant from Merck. Ethical Approval: Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Cleveland Clinic Institutional Review Board (IRB# 19-884). Human and Animal Rights: This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects. It is a review of data already collected in a hernia database. Informed Consent: Formal informed consent is not required for this type of study., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: The Shouldice method for inguinal hernia repair remains the gold standard for prosthesis-free repairs. Nonetheless, international guidelines have favored posterior mesh reinforcement as the standard of care for inguinal hernia repair due to lower risk of recurrence and chronic pain, avoidance of general anesthesia, and favorable biomechanical properties. Recent publications have shown the benefits of an open approach to posterior repairs. Herein, we use the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative (ACHQC) registry to compare patient-reported outcomes after a Shouldice no-mesh repair versus open preperitoneal (OPP) mesh repair., Methods: We performed a propensity score matched analysis to compare patient-reported quality of life (QoL) and peri/postoperative outcomes after a Shouldice repair versus OPP. Data from 2012 to 2022 were obtained from the ACHQC, and 1:1 optimal matching was performed. EuraHS scores were used to estimate QoL, and further analysis on the EuraHS domains of pain, aesthetics, and activity restriction were performed between the two cohorts., Results: Matching resulted in 257 participants in each, Shouldice and OPP cohorts. OPP was associated with a better QoL score compared to Shouldice at 30 days after surgery (Median (IQR) 7.75 (2.0-17.0) vs 13.0 (4.0-26.1); OR 0.559 [0.37, 0.84]; p = 0.003). This difference persisted at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively (OR 0.447 [0.26, 0.75] and 0.492 [0.26, 0.93], respectively). We did not observe any significant differences in hernia recurrence risk at 1-year, or rates of 30-day SSOs/SSIs, postoperative bleeding, peripheral nerve injury, DVTs, or UTIs., Conclusion: Our data suggest that OPP is associated with significantly better patient-reported QoL, in the first month after surgery and up to 1 year postoperatively, especially with respect to lesser pain, when compared to the Shouldice repair. In specialized inguinal hernia practices, open posterior mesh repairs may lead to better outcomes than non-mesh repairs. We encourage more training in both repairs to facilitate larger prospective studies and evaluation of the generalizability of these results to all surgeons performing IHR., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: The Lichtenstein repair has been synonymous with "open" inguinal hernia repair (IHR) for 40 years. However, international guidelines have suggested that posterior mesh placement results in advantageous biomechanics and reduced risk of nerve-related chronic pain. Additionally, the use of local anesthetics has been shown to reduce postoperative pain and complication risks. An open transrectus preperitoneal/open preperitoneal (TREPP/OPP) repair combines posterior mesh placement with the use of local anesthetic and as such could be the ideal repair for primary inguinal hernia. Using the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative (ACHQC) registry, we compared open anterior mesh with open posterior mesh repairs., Methods: We performed a propensity score matched analysis of patients undergoing open IHR between 2012 and 2022 in the ACHQC. After 1:1 optimal matching, both the TREPP/OPP and Lichtenstein cohorts were balanced with 451 participants in each group. Outcomes included patient-reported quality of life (QoL), hernia recurrence, and postoperative opioid use., Results: Improvement was seen after TREPP/OPP in EuraHS QoL score at 30 days (OR 0.558 [0.408, 0.761]; p = 0.001), and the difference persisted at 1 year (OR 0.588 [0.346, 0.994]; p = 0.047). Patient-reported opioid use at 30-day follow-up was significantly lower in the TREPP/OPP cohort (OR 0.31 [0.20, 0.48]; p < 0.001). 30-day frequency of surgical-site occurrences was significantly higher in the Lichtenstein repair cohort (OR 0.22 [0.06-0.61]; p = 0.007). There were no statistically significant differences in hernia recurrence risk at 1 year, or rates of postoperative bleeding, peripheral nerve injury, DVTs, or UTIs., Conclusion: Our analysis demonstrates a benefit of posterior mesh placement (TREPP/OPP) over anterior mesh placement (Lichtenstein) in open inguinal hernia repair in patient-reported QoL and reduced opioid use., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: International guidelines suggest the use of lapro-endoscopic technique for primary unilateral inguinal hernia (IHR) because of lower postoperative pain and reduction in chronic pain. It is unclear if the primary benefit is due to the minimally invasive approach, the posterior mesh position or both. Further research evaluating posterior mesh placement using open preperitoneal techniques is recommended. A potential benefit of open preperitoneal repair is the avoidance of general anesthesia, as these repairs can be performed under local anesthesia. This study compares clinical and patient-reported outcomes after unilateral laparo-endoscopic, robotic, and open posterior mesh IHRs., Methods: We performed a propensity score matched analysis of patients undergoing IHR between 2012 and 2021 in the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative registry. 10,409 patients underwent a unilateral IHR via a posterior approach. Hernia repairs were performed via minimally invasive surgery (MIS) which includes laparoscopic and robotic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP), laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP), or open transrectus preperitoneal/open preperitoneal (TREPP/OPP) approaches. Propensity score matching (PSM) utilizing nearest neighbor matching accounted for differences in baseline characteristics and possible confounding variables between groups. We matched 816 patients in the MIS cohort with 816 patients in the TREPP/OPP group. Outcomes included patient reported quality of life, hernia recurrence, and postoperative opioid use., Results: Improvement was seen after TREPP/OPP as compared to MIS IHR in EuraHS at 30 days (Median(IQR) 7.0 (2.0-16.64) vs 10 (2.0-24.0); OR 0.69 [0.55-0.85]; p = 0.001) and 6 months (1.0 (0.0-4.0) vs 2.0 (0.0-4.0); OR 0.63 [0.46-85]; p = 0.002), patient-reported opioid use at 30-day follow-up (18% vs 45% OR 0.26 [0.19-0.35]; p < 0.001), and rates of surgical site occurrences (0.8% vs 4.9% OR 0.16 [0.06-0.35]; p < 0.001). There were no differences in EuraHS scores and recurrences at 1 year., Conclusions: This study demonstrates a potential benefit of open posterior mesh placement over MIS repair in short-term quality of life and seroma formation with equivalent rates of hernia recurrence. Further study is needed to better understand these differences and determine the reproducibility of these findings outside of high-volume specialty centers., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Prescribing and consumption of opioids remain highly variable. Using a national hernia registry, we aimed to identify patient and surgery specific factors associated with low and high opioid tablet consumption after inguinal hernia repair., Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study evaluating patients undergoing elective inguinal hernia repair with 30-day follow-up and patient-reported opioid consumption from March 2019 to March 2021 using the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative. Clinically significant patient demographics, comorbidities, operative details, quality-of-life measurements, and surgeon prescribing data were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to identify statistically significant predictors of patients who took no opioid tablets or >10 tablets., Results: A total of 1937 patients were analyzed. Operations included 59% laparoscopic or robotic, 35% open mesh, and 6% open non-mesh repairs. Of these patients, 50% reported taking zero, 42% took 1-10, and 8% took ≥10 opioid tablets at 30-day follow-up. Patients who were older (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.34-1.79, p-value <0.001), ASA ≤ 2 (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.2-2.01, p-value <0.001), had no preoperative opioid use at baseline (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.31-4.03, p-value = 0.004), had local anesthetic with general anesthesia (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.0.5-1.85, p-value = 0.022), or prescribed <7 opioid tablets (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.96-2.62, p-value <0.001) were more likely to take no opioid tablets., Conclusion: Older, healthier, opioid naïve patients with local anesthetic administered during elective inguinal hernia repair are most likely to not require opioids. Surgeon prescribing-arguably the most modifiable factor-independently correlates with both low and high opioid consumption., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Post-operative opioid prescriptions contribute to prolonged opioid misuse and abuse. Using a national hernia registry, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a data-driven educational intervention on surgeon prescribing behavior., Methods: After collecting opioid prescribing and patient consumption data from March 2019-December 2019 in inguinal and umbilical hernia repair, the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative (ACHQC) Opioid Reduction Task Force presented data at a Quality Improvement (QI) Summit to educate surgeons on strategies to minimize opioid prescribing. Surgeons were asked to implement a multimodal pain management approach and were supported with educational tools created by the task force. Prescribing and consumption data after the summit, December 2019-March 2021, were then collected to assess the effectiveness of the QI effort., Results: Registry participation before and after the QI summit increased from 52 to 91 surgeons, with an increase of 353-830 umbilical hernia patients and 976-2447 inguinal hernia patients. After the summit, high (> 10 tablets) surgeon prescribers shifted toward low (≤ 10 tablets) prescribing. Yet, patients consumed less than what was prescribed, with a significant increase in patients consuming ≤ 10 tablets before and after the summit: 79-88% in umbilical hernia (p = 0.01) and 85-94% in inguinal hernia (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Following an educational QI summit by the ACHQC Opioid Reduction Task Force, high opioid prescribing has shifted toward low. However, patients consume less than prescribed, highlighting the importance of continuing this effort to reduce opioid prescribing., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Despite progress toward curtailing opioid prescribing, physicians are often slow to adopt new prescribing practices. Using the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative (ACHQC), we aimed to demonstrate the ability of a national, disease-specific, personalized registry to impact opioid prescribing., Methods: Using a collaborative and iterative process, a module was developed to capture surgeon opioid prescribing, patient-reported consumption, and risk factors for opioid use. Study reported according to the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) 2.0 guidelines., Results: Six months after implementation of the ACHQC opioid module, we assessed participation, prescribing and patient consumption patterns. For ventral hernia repair (VHR; n = 398), 23 surgeons reported prescribing > 20 pills (43%), 11-20 (40%), and < 10 (18%). In contrast, patients (n = 217) reported taking < 10 pills in 65% and only 20% reported taking > 15. For inguinal hernia repair (IHR; n = 443) 37 surgeons reported prescribing > 20 tablets (22%), 11-20 (32%), and < 10 (44%). Patients (n = 277) reported taking < 10 pills in 81% of cases, including 50% reporting zero, and only 13% taking > 15. We identified barriers to practice change and developed a strategy for education, provision of individualized data, and encouraging participation. Surgeon participation has since increased significantly (n = 65 for VHR; n = 53 for IHR), and analysis of the impact of this process is ongoing., Conclusion: Quality improvement requires physician engagement, which can be facilitated by meaningful and actionable data. The specificity of the ACHQC and the ability to provide surgeons with individualized data is a model method to incite change in physician behavior and improve patient outcomes., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)