Context: Ventral Hernias are an abnormal protrusion of an abdominal viscous or a part of it through the anterior abdominal wall at a site other than the groin region. Laparoscopic surgery has reaped importance for being less invasive, lessen hospital stay and also has better aesthetic value. However debate on the role of laparoscopy in ventral hernia repair outcome needs further evaluation despite it becoming increasingly popular. Aims: To study demographics of ventral hernia and compare open and laparoscopic method of repair for ventral hernias, duration of surgery, hospital stay, and expenditure between two procedures and to find the difference in complication rate between two groups. Settings and Design: Prospective randomized clinical study Methods and Material: Comparative hospital based prospective clinical study was conducted on patients presenting with Ventral hernias in a tertiary care centre for a duration of 18 months. A total of 48 subjects were randomized into two groups. Ethical clearance and informed consent was obtained prior to the start of the study. Statistical analysis used: Categorical data was represented in the form of Frequencies and proportions. Chi-square was used as test of significance. Continuous data was represented as mean and SD. Independent t test was used as test of significance to identify the mean difference between two groups. p value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Laparoscopic surgery was performed in Smaller hernia and Open surgery was performed for hernia with Larger size. Mean time required for post operative mobilization and duration of ICU stay was lesser in Laparoscopic group compared to open group significantly. Expenditure was significantly greater in laparoscopic group than in the open group. Open group required longer duration of stay in ICU than Laparoscopic group. This difference in mobilization and ICU stay during post operative period was statistically significantly. Conclusions: Laparoscopic procedure in Ventral Hernia has shown good results and is widely consented for. It has dwarfed hospital stay, ICU stay and has seen to lower immediate complications such as pain, compared to open repair.

Keywords: Laparoscopic; Open; Ventral Hernia; Hernia Repair.