Keywords
hernia, hernias
WOUND INFECTIONS, RECURRENCE, POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS
Minimally invasive techniques have revolutionized the field of surgery with benefits that include reduced postoperative pain, earlier return to normal activities, and fewer postoperative complications compared to open techniques [Over the last three decades, laparoscopic repair has gained popularity in the management of incisional hernias. Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair is believed to be superior in terms of postoperative recovery time, wound infections, and recurrence rates [In light of the ongoing debate about the expected merits of laparoscopic versus open incisional hernia repair, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted in the last two decades [In view of increasing value of patient-centered outcomes and the scarcity of long-term outcomes after incisional hernia repair, we aimed to conduct a trial with focus on long-term follow-up. The INCisional Hernia-Trial (INCH-Trial) was designed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair.