Table 1 Level 1a studies comparing laparoscopic and open repairs of incisional ventral hernia
| Author | No of patients lap/open | Follow- up (months | Hospital stay (days) lap/open | Return to activity/work (days) lap/open | Cost lap/open) | QOL lap/open) | Acute pain lap/open | Chronic pain lap/open | Recurrence lap/open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sains et al. [152] 5 RCTs | 366 183/183 | 2–27 | Shorter hospital stay in lap SMD 1.82 95 % CI 3.21 to −0.44 p = 0.01 | NR | NR | NR | No difference 95 % CI −0.41 to 0.33 p = 0.84 (2 trials) | NR | RR: 1.0 95 % CI 0.31−3.2 p = 1 |
| Forbes et al. [16] 8 RCTs | 517 269/253 | 23 | 1.1–5.7/1.33–9.06 6 RCTs Shorter hospital stay in lap | 13/25 p = < 0.005 (1 study) | NR | NR | NR | NR | 3.4 %/3.6 % RR 1.02 95 % CI 0.41−2.54 p = 0.56 |
| Sauerland et al. [2] 9 RCTs | 880 446/434 | 2–27 | 1.1–5.7/1.33–9.06 p = 0.56 6 RCTs Shorter hospital stay in lap | No difference 9% CI −2.1 to 0.7 p = 0.33 (2 studies) | 95 % CI 1.84–3.14 p < 0.00001 (1 study) | No difference p = 0.11 (1 study) | 95 % CI:P −0.45 to 0.62 p = 0.75 (4 studies) | 95 % CI −0.24 to 1.11 p = 0.2 (1 study) | RR: 1.22 95 % CI 0.62–2.38 p = 0.56 |