Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of anterior versus posterior app-roach to posterior rectus sheath in laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal sublay (TES) for diastasis recti combined with umbilical hernia.

Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 45 patients with diastasis recti abdominis combined with umbilical hernia who were admitted to The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital and 24 patients with diastasis recti abdominis combined with umbilical hernia who were admitted to Shenzhen People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2024 were collected. There were 6 males and 63 females, aged (50±14)years. All 69 patients underwent laparoscopic TES. Among them, 36 patients under-going the anterior approach to the posterior rectus sheath were assigned to anterior approach group, and 33 patients undergoing the posterior approach were assigned to posterior approach group. Observation indicators: (1) surgical conditions; (2) follow-up conditions. Comparison of measurement data with normal distribution between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Comparison of count data between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability.

Results (1) Surgical conditions. All patients in both groups successfully completed the surgery. The type of mesh placed was self-fixating mesh in all cases, with no conversion to open surgery, and routine drainage tube placement was performed postoperatively. For the anterior approach group and the posterior approach group, the operative time was (167±44)minutes and (214±53)minutes, the maximum separation width of the rectus abdominis was (3.57±0.79)cm and (4.08±0.99)cm, respectively, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups (t=-4.00, -2.36, P<0.05). For the anterior approach group and the posterior approach group, cases with peritoneal injury were 26 and 29, the umbilical hernia defect diameter was (2.15±0.46)cm and (2.24±0.52) cm, the postoperative drainage volume was (62±22)mL and (72±36)mL, respectively, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups (χ²=2.61, t=-0.76, -1.50, P>0.05). (2) Follow-up conditions. Among the 69 patients, 61 were followed up, including 31 cases in the anterior approach group and 30 cases in the posterior approach group. The duration of follow-up was 31(range, 8-44)months for the anterior approach group and 35(range, 9-60)months for the posterior approach group, respectively. No recurrence (abdominal wall bulge), seroma, chronic pain, or infection occurred in either group, and all patients were able to complete the trunk flexion movement with hands behind the head.

Conclusion Both the anterior and posterior approaches to posterior rectus sheath are safe and effective in laparoscopic TES for diastasis recti abdominis combined with umbilical hernia, among which the anterior approach to posterior rectus sheath has a shorter operation time.