To evaluate the impact of the 2010 Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) publication on subsequent literature regarding ventral hernia repair, particularly focusing on the prevalence of topics highlighted by the VHWG and the specific research questions it aimed to address.
Key Findings:
1291 publications on incisional hernia repairs were identified in the decade pre-VHWG, and 3041 in the decade post-VHWG, indicating a significant increase in research output.
172 publications pre-VHWG and 642 post-VHWG included key topics specified by the VHWG, highlighting the publication's influence on research focus.
The topics 'biologic' and 'comorbid' showed significant increases in frequency post-VHWG, suggesting a shift in research priorities.
Interpretation:
The VHWG publication appears to have influenced the research agenda in ventral hernia repair, particularly increasing the focus on biologic materials and comorbidities, which may guide future research directions.
Limitations:
The study did not analyze the quality or outcomes of the studies published post-VHWG, which could affect the interpretation of the findings.
Potential biases in publication and citation practices were not addressed, which may impact the validity of the bibliometric analysis.
Conclusion:
The VHWG publication significantly impacted the literature on ventral hernia repair, leading to increased exploration of biologic mesh and comorbidities in subsequent studies.
by Sara M. Maskal, Sergio Mazzola Poli de Figueiredo, Matthew Weaver, Mary Schleicher, Chao Tu, Ryan C. Ellis, Kimberly Woo, Aldo Fafaj, Daphne Remulla, Benjamin T. Miller, Clayton C. Petro, Lucas R.A. Beffa, Ajita S. Prabhu, Michael J. Rosen
