Are Surgisis biomeshes effective in reducing recurrences after laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernias?

Prosthetic repair is frequently advocated after repair of large hiatal hernias, and biomeshes have been proposed to help reduce the high recurrence rate. All patients undergoing laparoscopic repair of primary or recurrent large hiatal hernia, and with intraoperative finding of weak diaphragmatic pillars, as judged by the surgeon, were included, from June 2004 to July 2005, in a prospective observational study. In these patients, Surgisis biomeshes were employed to assist the repair. Six patients (4 for primary and 2 for recurrent hernia) received biomesh hiatoplasty. Four had mild dysphagia at 1 month that disappeared at the next follow-up. Three had slow radiologic transit through the esophagogastric junction, still present in 1 patient at 1 year. One patient had hernia recurrence 6 months after surgery and 2 other patients had radiologic recurrence of a small hernia at 1-year follow-up; in all 3, the recurrence was small and asymptomatic and none were reoperated. The short-term recurrence rate using biomesh for the laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernias in patients with weak diaphragmatic pillars was high at 50%. Postoperative morbidity and mesh-related complications were almost absent. Biomeshes can be safely used as on lay reinforcement in hiatoplasty, but do not reduce the hiatal recurrence rate.