Delineating the burden of chronic post-operative pain in patients undergoing open repair of complex ventral hernias

Background: After open complex ventral hernia repair (cVHR), chronic pain has a significant impact on quality of life and processes of care. Methods: Records of 177 patients undergoing cVHR were reviewed in order to characterize the burden of managing postoperative pain in the first post-operative year following open cVHR. Results: In this cohort, 91 patients initiated at least one unsolicited complaint of pain, though phone call (37), unscheduled clinic visit (45) or evaluation in the emergency room (9); among these an actionable diagnosis was found in 38 (41.8%). Among 41 patients who initiated additional unsolicited complaints of pain, an actionable diagnosis was found in only 3 patients. Risk factors for such complaints included pre-operative pain and the use of synthetic mesh. Conclusions: Even in the absence of an actionable diagnosis, significant resources are utilized in evaluation and management of unsolicited complaints of pain in the first year after cVHR.