Abstract

Introduction: 5-26% of patients develop incisional hernia (IH) after midline laparotomy. We hypothesized that a simple ‘herring bone’ stitch repair can provide secure abdominal wall closure and minimize the incidence of IH in patients undergoing emergency midline laparotomy.

Methods: This prospective observational study was done from March 2015 to December 2017 in a teaching hospital in Central India. Consecutive patients undergoing emergency midline laparotomy were included. Study group (patients undergoing single layer continuous herring bone closure of rectus sheath with Polypropylene no. 1 suture) was compared with control group (patients undergoing standard single layer continuous closure of rectus sheath with Polypropylene no. 1 suture). Patients were followed up till 1 year. Outcomes noted were surgical site infection (SSI), proline knot granuloma or sinus formation, superficial wound dehiscence, fascial dehiscence and IH.

Results: There were 112 patients in study group and 108 in control group with comparable demographics.Vector physics of Herring bone stitch showed that any tension on the suture line is preferentially distributed parallel to the wound. Incidence of SSI, proline knot granuloma and superficial wound dehiscence was comparable among the two groups. The incidence of fascial dehiscence (0.045) and IH was less (p = 0.009) in study group.

Discussion: The Herring bone stitch is technically easy, reproducible, safe and can be performed quickly. The present study shows superiority of ‘herring bone suture’ over conventional closure of rectus sheath in emergency midline laparotomy.

Keywords: Emergency midline laparotomy; Abdominal wall closure; Incisional hernia; Herring bone stitch