To investigate and compare the efficacy of composite mesh and biological mesh in laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) repair for umbilical hernia.

This single-center retrospective cohort study consecutively enrolled 93 patients with umbilical hernia who underwent laparoscopic IPOM repair in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Jinan Central Hospital, from July 2018 to September 2024. Based on the type of mesh used intraoperatively, patients were divided into the composite mesh group (n=43) and the biological mesh group (n=50). All patients underwent laparoscopic IPOM repair. Data collected included operative time, postoperative time to first flatus, postoperative hospital stay, incidence of infection, recurrence, and chronic pain. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0.

There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of sex, age, body mass index, and hernia ring diameter (P>0.05). Similarly, no significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to operative time, postoperative hospital stay, incidence of infection, or incidence of chronic pain (P>0.05). Notably, the postoperative time to first flatus was significantly shorter in the biological mesh group compared with the composite mesh group [(1.50±0.29) days vs. (2.30±0.67) days, P<0.001]. Recurrence occurred in two cases(4.0%) in the biological mesh group and in none in the composite mesh group; however, the difference in recurrence rate between the two groups was not statistically significant (P=0.497).

Both types of mesh demonstrated comparable surgical outcomes. The biological mesh group showed an advantage in terms of postoperative time to first flatus, although its recurrence rate warrants further attention.