Posterior Components Separation With Transversus Abdominis Release (TAR) Versus Alternative Techniques of Components Separation: Systematic Review

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the clinical effectiveness of posterior abdominal wall components separation with transversus abdominis muscle release (PCS-TAR) in the management of ventral abdominal hernias. Ventral abdominal hernias complicate up to 11% of laparotomy wounds. Surgical management includes primary repair, hernioplasty, flaps, and components separation. A technique has been described to close large abdominal defects by releasing bilateral myofascial flaps of rectus abdominis from external oblique and advancing these flaps to the midline. Minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques were subsequently developed to reduce complications. A recently described method is PCS-TAR. The hypothesis is that PCS-TAR for abdominal wall reconstruction is associated with lower rates of wound complications and hernia recurrence than other components separation techniques. A comprehensive search of databases including Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, looking for the primary outcomes of hernia recurrence and wound complications following different techniques of components separation. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined. The quality of studies was examined independently by 2 assessors. A total of 363 studies were identified. Three retrospective comparative studies met the inclusion criteria. No randomized control trial comparing different techniques of abdominal wall components separation was identified. No technique could be identified as superior to others, due to a paucity of the literature. However, based on a few retrospective cohort studies, PCS-TAR emerges as a well-tolerated new technique, with a low incidence of wound complications and hernia recurrence.

Transversus Abdominis Release Versus Anterior Component Separation in Ventral Abdominal Hernia - A Prospective Comparative Study

“…Ventral abdominal hernia (VAH) repair is considered a surgical challenge especially hernias with large defect size and loss of domain (1)(2)(3). The incidence of recurrence after VAH repair ranges from 18.1% in primary VAH to 30.6% in secondary VAH (incisional hernia) (4).…”

“…The principle of any hernia repair is to achieve a tension free repair with re-enforcement by mesh to decrease the incidence of recurrence (5). Many techniques had been studied and evaluated to address the problem of complex VAH with large defects and loss domain (1,6).…”

Abdominal Wall Reconstruction by Posterior Components Separation Prosthetic Repair in Rabbits

“…Однако сепарационные методики полноценно не изучены. Это связано с небольшим количеством проведенных исследований в рассматриваемой области, отвечающих требованиям доказательной медицины, с разным подходом к выполнению CST, с применением различных сетчатых эндопротезов, с нюансами ведения послеоперационного периода и ограниченным опытом выполнения подобных вмешательств у большинства хирургов [3]. В целом ряде случаев данные операции являются прерогативой одного-двух специалистов в клинике из-за сложностей в освоении технических навыков диссекции тканей, четкой идентификации слоев брюшной стенки, риска осложнений и отдаленных неблагоприятных последствий [4].…”