Quantitative radiographic imaging holds promise as a novel and innovative strategy to
assess ventral hernia patients. Assessing abdominal wall changes surrounding ventral
hernia using shear wave velocity values measured with ultrasound will identify features
of the abdominal wall that differ between healthy volunteers and subjects scheduled to
have ventral hernia repair. Through the use of ultrasound including shear wave velocity
measurements, the abdominal wall of 25 subjects scheduled to have ventral hernia repair
will be compared to those of 35 healthy volunteers. The ultrasound measurements will
elucidate if ventral hernia affects abdominal wall elasticity and effect surgical
outcomes.

Ultrasound Assessment of Ventral Hernia Defects

Ventral Incisional Hernia

ARFI-SWV Ultrasound holds promise as an inexpensive, noninvasive, point-of-care
diagnostic tool for pre-operatively predicting successful hernia repair. The
investigators propose to develop and refine a quantitative ultrasound protocol to measure
abdominal wall features suitable for predicting successful closure of the midline fascia.
ARFI-SWV ultrasound represents a novel and intriguing modality for real time
visualization and characterization of changes in the biomechanical properties of diseased
musculoskeletal tissues.

In this study, ARFI-SWV ultrasound is hypothesized to preoperatively measure the
stiffness in the lateral abdominal wall as an estimation for mobility during hernia
repair. Preoperatively evaluating hernia severity through ARFI-SWV ultrasound will be
performed to identify mechanical characteristics of the abdominal musculature to predict
success of midline fascial re-approximation in hernia patients. The study proposes to
compare ultrasound images and associated shear wave velocity measurements between 35
healthy volunteers and 25 subjects undergoing surgical repair for ventral hernia.
Subjects with ventral hernia will undergo imaging no earlier than two weeks prior to
elective hernia repair and again postoperatively within six months following repair at a
standard followup visit. Statistical analysis will determine if there is a significant
difference in the abdominal wall stiffness, represented by the ultrasound shear wave
velocity measurements, between the healthy subjects and the subjects with ventral hernia.
Further analysis will determine if there is any statistically significant relationship
between abdominal wall stiffness of subjects with ventral hernia and surgical outcomes.

Ultrasound Acoustic Radiation Forced Impulse Shear Wave Velocity

Differences in the shear wave velocity measurements in the abdominal wall of healthy and
ventral hernia patients

Assisstant Professor of Surgery

Differences in the shear wave velocity measurements in the abdominal wall of preoperative
hernia scan and postoperative scan 26 weeks after surgical ventral hernia repair

Any reported incidental findings or health related issues from being subjected to the
study-related ultrasound imaging

Twenty-five patients diagnosed with ventral hernia

Twenty-five volunteers without ventral hernia

Ten healthy volunteers with an International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) with
the scoring result of High or Vigorous Intensity

Ultrasound Assessment of Ventral Hernia Defects

About this trial

Study ID

Status

Type

Phase

Placebo

Accepting

Trial Timing

What is this trial about?

What are the participation requirements?

Locations

Location

Status