Smoking cessation and weight loss before ventral hernia repair – can we really justify this? A single center cohort study
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By
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March 21, 2026
Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of a smoking cessation and weight loss program prior to elective ventral hernia repair (VHR) within routine surgical outpatient care.
Key Findings:
- Successful prehabilitation was defined as smoking cessation for a minimum of six weeks and/or reaching target weight, which are critical for improving surgical outcomes.
- Patients who achieved these goals were offered surgery, with smoking cessation verified by urine cotinine testing.
Interpretation:
The study highlights the potential for a pragmatic prehabilitation program to improve surgical outcomes by addressing modifiable risk factors like smoking and obesity, suggesting a model for broader implementation in surgical care.
Limitations:
- The study was conducted at a single center, which may limit generalizability to other settings and populations.
- No structured pharmacological weight loss protocol was implemented, which could affect the outcomes.
Conclusion:
Prehabilitation focusing on smoking cessation and weight management is feasible in routine surgical care, potentially improving outcomes for patients undergoing VHR.
