The influence of Transversus Abdominis Muscle Release (TAR) for complex incisional hernia repair on the intraabdominal pressure and pulmonary function

INTRODUCTION: Among many other techniques for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR), posterior component separation with Transversus Abdominis Release (TAR), continues to gain popularity and it is increasingly used with promising long-term results. Our goal was to evaluate the influence of TAR with mesh retromuscular reinforcement on the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and respiratory function in a series of patients with complex incisional hernias (IH). METHODS: Since November 2014 through February 2019, patients with TAR were identified in the Clinical Department of Surgery database and were retrospectively reviewed. Outcome measures include: demographics, pre- and perioperative details, preoperative and postoperative IAP and plateau pressure (PP). RESULTS: One-hundred-and-one consecutive TAR procedures (19.7% from all incisional hernia repairs) were analyzed. Mean age was 63 years with a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 31.85 kg/m(2) (25–51). Diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) were the main major comorbidities. Mean hernia defect area was 247 cm(2) (104–528 cm(2)). CONCLUSION: TAR is a safe and sound procedure with acceptable modifications of the IAP morbidity and recurrence rate when correctly performed on the right patient.