Laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias: nine years' experience with 850 consecutive hernias

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The recurrence rate after standard repair of ventral hernias may be as high as 12-52%, and the wide surgical dissection required often results in wound complications. Use of a laparoscopic approach may decrease rates of complications and recurrence after ventral hernia repair. METHODS: Data on all patients who underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) performed by 4 surgeons using a standardized procedure between November 1993 and October 2002 were collected prospectively (85% of patients) or retrospectively. RESULTS: LVHR was completed in 819 of the 850 patients (422 men; 428 women) in whom it was attempted. Thirty-four percent of completed LVHRs were for recurrent hernias. The patient mean body mass index was 32; the mean defect size was 118 cm2. Mesh, averaging 344 cm2, was used in all cases. Mean operating time was 120 min, mean estimated blood loss was 49 mL, and hospital stay averaged 2.3 days. There were 128 complications in 112 patients (13.2%). One patient died of a myocardial infarction. The most common complications were ileus (3%) and prolonged seroma (2.6%). During a mean follow-up time of 20.2 months (range, 1-94 months), the hernia recurrence rate was 4.7%. Recurrence was associated with large defects, obesity, previous open repairs, and perioperative complications. CONCLUSION: In this large series, LVHR had a low rate of conversion to open surgery, a short hospital stay, a moderate complication rate, and a low risk of recurrence.     

The feasibility of adopting laparoscopic incisional hernia repair in general surgery practice: early outcomes in an unselected series of patients

A laparoscopic approach to incisional hernia repair has been shown to be safe and effective in selected patients. We report our early outcomes following laparoscopic ventral/incisional hernia repair (LVHR) in an unselected series of patients encountered in general surgery practice. All patients referred with incisional hernia were offered a laparoscopic repair using prosthetic mesh. Patients were not excluded from laparoscopic approach on the basis of age, previous surgery, defect size, intraperitoneal mesh, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, or abdominal wall stomas. We followed 28 consecutive patients who underwent LVHR (17 primary, 11 recurrent hernias). Laparoscopic repair was completed in 27 patients with a mean operative time of 141.6 +/- 11.9 minutes. There were no intraoperative complications. The mean size of the abdominal wall defects was 153.4 +/- 27.5 cm and the mean mesh size was 349.2 +/- 59.1 cm. The mean hospital stay was 3.7 +/- 0.3 days. Nine patients developed large wound seromas; all spontaneously resolved. Our experience suggests that LVHR is feasible as a primary approach to most incisional hernias encountered in general surgery practice.     

腹腔镜与开放式无张力修补术治疗腹壁疝临床对比研究

目的 评价腹腔镜腹壁疝修补术（LVHR）的安全性与有效性。方法 对2007年1月至2008年8月间上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院接受无张力修补术的68例腹壁疝病人（缺损长径≤20cm）的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果 LVHR 31例,开放式腹壁疝修补术（OVHR）37例。随访时间1～21个月（中位时间11个月）。LVHR与OVHR在年龄、性别比、BMI和疝缺损大小上差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。LVHR与OVHR的平均手术时间分别为（60.5±17.7）min和（75.5±30.3）min（P＝0.017）,平均术后住院天数分别为（6.2±2.5）d和（9.6±8.0）d（P＝0.026）,术后2周内恢复非限制性活动人数分别为96.8%和78.4%（P=0.026）,差异均有统计学意义。两组术后第1天的疼痛评分VAS分别为5.6±1.2和6.3±1.3,差异有统计学意义（P＝0.018）,术后1周和1个月的VAS差异无统计学意义（P＝0.932,P＝0.056）。两组总并发症发生率分别为19.4%和24.3%（P =0.623）,复发率分别为3.2%和5.6%（P =1.000）,差异无统计学意义。两组的住院总费用分别为（18334±5336）元和（9508±9222）元,差异有统计学意义（P =0.000）。结论 LVHR对于缺损长径<20cm的腹壁疝是安全有效的。     

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??Clinical control study of laparoscopic procedures vs open mesh repair for ventral hernias LI Jian-wen, XIE Yi-sheng, QIU Ming-yuan, et al. Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre, Shanghai 200025, China. Correspongding anthor: MAO Zhi-hai, E-mail:zhihaimao@163.com Abstract Objective To estimate the laparoscopic ventral hernia repair(LVHR), focusing on the safety and efficiency of the operations. Methods The clinical data of 68 patients with ventral hernias (defect≤20cm) performed hernia reparing between January 2007 and August 2008 at Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University were analyzed retrospectively. Results Thirty-one patients underwent laparoscopic repair (LVHR), and 37 patients underwent open mesh repair (OVHR). The clinical outcome was determined by a median follow-up of 11 months(1~21 months) for the two groups. No significant differences were noticed between the two groups in age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and hernia size. The mean operative time was (60.5±17.7)min for LVHR patients and (75.5±30.3)min for OVHR patients (P??0.017). The mean postoperative hospital stay was (6.2±2.5)d for LVHR patients and (9.6±8.0)d for OVHR patients (P??0.026). 96.8% of patients (30/31) were able to return to usual activity in 2 weeks for LVHR and 78.4% of patients (29/37) for OVHR (P=0.026). LVHR patients felt less pain in the first day after operation (P??0.018), and there were no significant differences in visual-analogue pain scores between the two groups afterward. Complications occurred in 19.4 % of LVHR patients and 24.3 % of OVHR patients (P =0.623) with a recurrence rate of 3.2% in LVHR and 5.6% in OVHR patients (P =1.000). The mean cost was (18334±5336) yuan RMB for LVHR patients and (9508±9222) yuan RMB for OVHR patients (P=0.000). Conclusion The short-term results indicate that laparoscopic technique is safe and effective for ventral hernia repairing with hernia defect less than 20cm.     

Technique and outcomes of abdominal incisional hernia repair using a synthetic composite mesh: a report of 455 cases

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall hernias are a frequent and formidable challenge for general surgeons. Several different surgical techniques and types of mesh prosthetics are available for repair. We evaluated outcomes of an open ventral hernia repair using a synthetic composite mesh. STUDY DESIGN: We prospectively collected data on consecutive patients undergoing open ventral hernia repair using a synthetic composite mesh from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2005 at four large medical centers. Four surgeons used a standardized surgical procedure for all patients. RESULTS: The study consisted of 455 patients with an average age of 56 years; 54% were men. Sixty-nine percent of the patients underwent repairs for recurrent hernias. Mean defect size was 44 cm(2), and mean mesh size was 213 cm(2). Average length of hospital stay was 1.1 days. Thirty-one patients had 33 early complications (7%), and 3 patients (0.7%) required reoperation (one each for seroma, bowel injury, and wound breakdown). Early infection occurred in four patients (0.9%), and one patient required reoperation and graft removal. Late complications occurred in nine patients (2%), with two patients requiring reoperation. Late infections occurred in two patients (0.4%); both required antibiotic treatment. Recurrent hernias were observed in 6 patients (1%; 6 of 450 because of 5 patients with unknown recurrence) at a mean followup of 29.3 months. CONCLUSIONS: In this large multicenter series, open ventral hernia repair using a composite mesh resulted in a short hospital stay, moderate complication rate, low infection rate, and low recurrence rate.     

Laparoscopic tension-free repair of anterior abdominal wall incisional and ventral hernias with an intraperitoneal Gore-Tex mesh: prospective study and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Recurrence rates after repair of incisional and ventral hernias range from 18% to 52%. Prosthetic open repair has decreased this rate, but the wide fascial dissection it requires increases the complication rate. Laparoscopic repair is a safe and effective alternative. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed including 86 patients (63 women and 23 men) with a mean age of 54 years (range 29-79 years) having incisional or ventral hernias who underwent laparoscopic repair in our institution between July 1994 and October 2001. The majority of the patients were obese with a mean body mass index of 31.7 kg/m2. The abdominal wall defect size ranged from 2 X 1 cm to 20 X 13 cm. In all cases, a Gore-Tex mesh (Dual Mesh, W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) was used in sizes ranging from 10 X 15 cm to 20 X 30 cm. RESULTS: Nineteen repairs were performed for recurrent hernias (12 incisional and 7 ventral). The mean operative time was 110.3 minutes (range 50-240 minutes). There was one open conversion (1.2%), one intraoperative complication (1.2%), and no deaths. There were no wound or mesh infections. Immediate postoperative complications occurred in 9 patients (10.6%) and late complications occurred in 16 patients (18.8%). The average hospital stay was 4.8 days (range 2-19 days). During a mean follow-up of 37 months (range 6-73 months), there were 6 hernia recurrences (7%). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic repair of incisional hernia and ventral hernia appears to be safe, especially with the use of Gore-Tex mesh, and is proving to be effective as it decreases pain, complications, hospital stay, and recurrences.     

Perioperative outcomes and complications of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic techniques are being used increasingly in the repair of ventral hernias and offer the potential benefits of a shorter hospital stay, decreased wound complications, and possibly a lower recurrence rate. Despite good results from high-volume centers, significant complications may occur with this approach and the morbidity of incisional hernia repair may be underestimated. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) since its inception at our institution. METHODS: Medical records of all patients who underwent LVHR at a single institution from May 2000 through December 2003 were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative variables including complications were analyzed. Follow-up evaluation was by office visit and phone survey with assessment of patient satisfaction scores. Data are expressed as mean +/- SD. RESULTS: A total of 121 LVHR were performed in 116 patients (52 men, 64 women; mean age, 57 +/- 13 y; mean body mass index, 35 +/- 8). Hernias were recurrent in 35 cases (28.9%), with a mean of 1.4 prior repairs (range, 1-7). The mean defect size was 109 +/- 126 cm2 and the average mesh size used was 256 +/- 192 cm2. Operating time was 147 +/- 45 minutes, and the hospital stay averaged 1.7 +/- 1 days. Twelve cases (9.9%) were converted to open operation, most commonly because of extensive adhesions. Extensive laparoscopic adhesiolysis was necessary in 29 cases (26.6%). Overall, perioperative complications occurred in 33 cases (27.3%), 13 of which (39.3%) were persistent seromas. Major complications were seen in 9 cases (7.4%). There were 4 enterotomies (3.3%): 3 occurred as a result of adhesiolysis and 1 resulted from a trocar injury; 2 were detected intraoperatively and were converted to open operation and 2 presented postoperatively. One of these patients developed sepsis and died. Follow-up evaluation was available for 83.6% of cases at a mean interval of 22 +/- 16 months after repair. The hernia recurrence rate was 9.3% (9 cases) and was detected at a median of 6 months postoperatively. The overall patient satisfaction score was high at 4.3 +/- 1.1 (scale, 1-5). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic repair is effective for the vast majority of patients with primary or recurrent ventral hernias and results in hernia recurrence rates of less than 10%, with high patient satisfaction scores. Although seroma is the most common complication, major morbidity occurred in 7.4% of the patients in our series. Enterotomy is the most common serious complication and may result in sepsis and death.     

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in obese patients: a new standard of care

HYPOTHESIS: Ventral abdominal hernias represent a frequent and often formidable clinical problem, especially in obese patients. Because laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) results in few complications and a low recurrence rate, the use of minimally invasive techniques in this subgroup of patients may minimize perioperative complications and failure rates. DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred sixty-three obese patients (body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters], > or =30) who underwent LVHR at our institution between July 1, 1998, and December 31, 2003. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient age, sex, body mass index, size of fascial defect and mesh, operating time, operative blood loss, length of hospitalization, complications, and hernia recurrences. RESULTS: Ninety-eight women and 65 men, with a mean body mass index of 38, underwent LVHR. Twenty patients (12.3%) had 21 postoperative complications. There was no perioperative mortality. The mean length of hospital stay was 2.6 days. The recurrence rate was 5.5% at a mean follow-up of 25 months (range, 1-73 months). CONCLUSIONS: A low rate of conversion to laparotomy, minimal perioperative morbidity, and the absence of perioperative mortality in this series indicate the safety of LVHR in obese patients with complex hernias. In addition, a success rate of more than 94.5% suggests improved efficacy of LVHR compared with the historical rates among control subjects undergoing open surgery. In experienced hands, LVHR may be the approach of choice for most patients with a body mass index of 30 or more.     

Results of laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias--a case-control study

The surgical treatment of ventral hernias has changed in the last decade. Conventional methods involve tightening of the abdominal fascias is the reason for high recurrence rate. While the use of mesh reduces the recurrence rate, it does not change the rate of other complications, in particular, the risk of infection. We report the results of laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias performed in 15 patients (10 female, 5 male). The average age of patients was 59.5 years (39-79). Indications included 7 recurrent incisional hernias (3 patients had second recurrence, 4 patients had first recurrence operated on without mesh in the first operation); 5 patients with primary incisional hernias; and 3 primary umbilical hernias. The mean size of the defect was 66.2 cm2 (16-130 cm2). Average operation time was 101 minutes (64-190 min). In the postoperative period 1 patient developed seroma, and 4 patients developed ileus each was successfully treated conservatively. In one patient a second-look laparoscopy was performed because of neuralgia. Length of hospital stay varied between 3 and 10 days (median: 6 days); the length of follow-up period was 5-22 months (median: 12.4 months). We believe that laparoscopic treatment of ventral hernias reduces the complication rate, and reduces hospital stay.     

Laparoscopic sutured closure with mesh reinforcement of incisional hernias

Background This study reports medium-term outcomes of laparoscopic incisional hernia repair. Study Design Laparoscopic repair was performed on 721 patients with ventral hernia. After adhesiolysis the defect was closed with no. 1 polyamide suture or loop. This was followed by reinforcement with intraperitoneal onlay repair with a bilayered mesh. Results Laproscopic repair of ventral hernia was performed on 613 females and 108 males. Of these, 185 (25.7%) were recurrent incisional hernias of which 93 had undergone previous open hernioplasty. The remaining 92 patients had previously undergone sutured repair. The average operating time was 95 min (range 60–115 min). Conversion rate was 1%. The average hospital stay was 2 days (range 1–6 days). The commonest complication was seroma formation at the incisional hernia site. Full-thickness bowel injury occurred in two patients. The mean follow-up period was 4.2 years (range 3 months to 10 years). Recurrence was noted in four (0.55%) patients. Conclusion Laparoscopic repair is well-tolerated and can be accomplished with minimum morbidity in ventral hernias.     

Recurrence after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair

Background: Although the early results of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair have shown a low recurrence rate, there is a paucity of long-term data. This study reviews a single institution's experience with laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR). Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of all LVHR performed at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from January 1996 to March 2001. Recurrence rates were determined by physical exam or telephone follow-up. Factors predictive of recurrence were determined using Cox regression. Results: Of 100 ventral hernias completed laparoscopically, 96 were available for long-term follow-up (average, 30 months; range 4–65). There were no deaths and major morbidity occurred in seven patients. Recurrences were identified in 17 patients. Nine recurrences occurred in the 1st postoperative year; however, hernia recurrence continued throughout the period of follow-up. Multivariate analysis showed that a prior failed hernia repair was associated with a more likely chance of another recurrence (65% vs 35%, odds ratio (OR) 3.6; p = 0.05) and that an increased estimated blood loss (106 cc vs 51 cc, OR 1.03; p = 0.005) predicted recurrence. Other variables, including body mass index (BMI) (32 vs 31 kg/m2, p = 0.38), defect size (115 cm2 vs 91 cm2; p = 0.23), size of mesh (468 cm2 vs 334 cm2, p = 0.19), type of mesh (p = 0.62), and mesh fixation (p = 0.99), did not predict recurrence. An additional 14 cases required conversion to an open operation, and seven of these cases (50%) had recurrence on long-term follow-up. Conclusion: Although LVHR remains the preferred method of hernia repair at our institution, this study documents a higher recurrence rate than many other short-term series. There results underscore the importance of long-term follow-up in assessing hernia surgery outcome.     

Components separation technique and laparoscopic approach: a review of two evolving strategies for ventral hernia repair

When faced with large ventral hernias, surgeons frequently must choose between higher incidence of recurrence after primary repair and higher incidence of wound complications after repair with mesh. The aim of this study is to compare early outcomes between laparoscopic repair (LR) and components separation technique (CST), two evolving strategies for the management of large ventral hernias. We reviewed 42 consecutive patients who underwent CST and 45 consecutive patients who underwent LR of ventral hernia defects of at least 12 cm2. Demographics, hernia characteristics, and short-term outcomes were compared between groups. Patients in the LR group were younger (53 +/- 2 vs 68 +/- 2 years, P < 0.0001), had greater body mass index (34 +/- 2 vs 29 +/- 1 kg/m2, P = 0.02), and had larger hernia defects (318 +/- 49 vs 101 +/- 16 cm2, P < 0.0001) than patients in the CST group. The LR resulted in shorter length of hospital stay (4.9 +/- 0.9 vs 9.6 +/- 1.8 days, P < 0.0001), lower incidence of ileus (7% vs 48%, P < 0.0001), and lower incidence of wound complications (2% vs 33%, P < 0.001) than the CST. Both techniques resulted in similar operative times, transfusion requirements, and mortality. Recurrences occurred in 7 per cent of patients at mean follow-up of 16 months in the CST group and 0 per cent at mean follow-up of 9 months after LR. The LR may have a short-term advantage over the CST in terms of incidence of ileus, wound complications, and hospital stay. Because of their unique advantage over traditional hernia repairs, both techniques may play a significant role in the future treatment of large ventral hernias. Adequate training will be essential for the safe and effective implementation of these techniques within the surgical community.     

Open versus laparoscopic intraperitoneal on-lay mesh repair: A comparison of outcomes in small ventral hernia

PurposeThe ideal surgical treatment of small ventral hernias (defect less than 4 cm) is still debatable. In our study, we sought to compare the outcomes of open versus laparoscopic intraperitoneal on-lay mesh (IPOM) repair in small ventral hernias.MethodsPatients with a single ventral hernia defect of less than 4 cm undergoing surgical mesh repair between January 2016 and September 2018 were prospectively registered for this study. The minimum follow-up duration was 12 months. Patient demographics, operative findings and regular post-operative follow-up details including recurrence rates and complications were recorded and analysed.Results41 patients underwent laparoscopic IPOM repair and 47 patients underwent open IPOM repair. The mean age for both groups is similar with no significant difference. The mean hernia defect size for the laparoscopic group is 2.8 cm (±0.8) whereas the mean hernia defect size for the open repair group is 2.1 cm (±0.4). The mean surgery duration for open IPOM repair was significantly shorter (59 min (±17) vs 74 min (±26); p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of seroma formation and surgical site infections post-operatively. There was also no significant difference in both groups in terms of chronic pain and recurrence at 1-year follow-up.ConclusionOpen IPOM repair for small ventral hernias may be superior to laparoscopic IPOM repair due to the shorter operative duration, single incision, and no additional risk of port-site hernias. There was no difference in chronic pain, wound infection and recurrence rate between the two groups.     

Laparoscopic ventral hernia meshplasty with "double-breasted" fascial closure of hernial defect: a new technique

BACKGROUND: Absence of recurrence, seroma, and pain eludes the laparoscopic surgeon managing ventral and incisional hernias. Multifactorial etiology (i.e., obesity, comorbidity, and dyscollagenemia) is a challenge. Surgeons have risen to this challenge by providing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR). Stability of mesh in a standard LVHR is attributed to Pascal's Principle (PP). PP, based upon concentration of forces at the point of least resistance, has been classically applied in hydraulic jacks to move large masses. Application of PP in LVHR is thus misplaced where the hernial defect becomes a point of concentration of intra-abdominal forces. This makes the mesh inherently unstable. For a stable mesh aided by PP, benefits of defect closure needed to be explored. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2004, 30 nonsmoker patients with incisional, primary ventral, and recurrent ventral hernias were operated on. Laparoscopic closure of the defect augmented with intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM), as done in standard LVHR, was preformed. RESULTS: Thirty patients with 34 defects of a mean "closed defect" length of 5.7 cm (range, 3-10) were operated on. Mean operative time was 90 minutes (range, 75-110). There were no conversions, visceral injury, postoperative visible bulge, or seroma. No painkiller except Paracetamol was required. There was no recurrence in a mean follow-up of 58 months (range, 26-84). Restored abdominal contour was achieved by all the patients. CONCLUSION: Closure of hernial defect augmented with IPOM is a safe, patient friendly, and scientific way of doing LVHR.     

Obesity and laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) is gaining acceptance and compares favorably with open repair. Patients who are morbidly obese (MO) traditionally have been considered poor surgical candidates for ventral hernia repair because of their associated comorbidities and risk of postoperative wound infection and hernia recurrence. In this study we evaluated our experience with LVHR in patients who are obese and those who are morbidly obese. METHODS: All 64 patients undergoing LVHR at the University of Kentucky between September 1997 and October 2000, representing 66 hernias, were entered prospectively into a database. Data before, during, and after surgery were collected as well as follow-up data. Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of body mass index (BMI): normal to overweight (BMI < or = 29); obese (BMI 30-39), and MO (BMI > or = 40). RESULTS: There were 16 patients in the MO group, most of them women. The mean BMI was 43.9 (range, 40-60), and the mean age was 45.6 years (range, 25-68 years). The location of defects was similar among the groups, as were the number of prior repairs. The operative time and length of stay for the MO group tended to be longer than for the other two groups. Five minor complications occurred in the MO group. During a follow-up period ranging from 1 to 35 months, there were no recurrences. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias in patients who are morbidly obese is both safe and feasible, and can be performed with minimal morbidity. At this writing, there have been no recurrences, but long-term follow-up evaluation is required.     

Laparoscopic repair of ventral incisional hernia

Background : Laparoscopic repair of ventral incisional hernias was first reported in 1993. Since then, there have been sporadic case reports and small series published about this procedure, but it has not been widely adopted. Newer types of composite prosthetic mesh may reduce the potential problem of bowel adhesion. Methods : Thirty cases of laparoscopic ventral incisional hernia repairs (carried out by two surgeons or their senior registrars) have been retrospectively reviewed and reported in this article. The data were obtained from patient records and subsequent phone surveys. Results : Thirty patients between 29 and 82 years (mean: 58 years) underwent this procedure. There were 14 men and 16 women. The average weight of the patients was 81 kg. The hernias were up to 6 or 7 cm in diameter. Mesh was used in 28 cases (polypropylene in 25 cases, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in two cases and composite mesh in one case). Most meshes were laid intraperitoneally and fixed into position with laparoscopic spiral tacks. Twenty‐nine cases were completed laparoscopically. One operation (3.3%) was converted to an open procedure because of severe bowel adherence to the hernia sac. The mean operating time was 52 min for laparoscopic ventral incisional hernia repairs only. All but two patients tolerated an oral diet within 24 h. The postoperative hospital stay ranged from 0 to 11 days, with 17 patients (57%) staying overnight and eight patients (27%) staying another day. Over 80% of the patients returned to house duties within a week. There was no mortality, and minor complications occurred in four patients (14%). One patient had a small bowel obstruction treated successfully by repeat laparoscopy with division of fibrinous adhesions to polypropylene mesh on day four. Follow up ranged from 1 to 69 months (mean: 12 months). One patient did not attend follow‐up appointments. There were three cases of hernia recurrence (10%). Conclusion : The results suggest that laparoscopic repair of ventral incisional hernias is a safe, effective and technically feasible operation for small‐ to medium‐sized hernias allowing shorter hospital stay, early recovery and resumption of normal activities. However, recurrence rates are comparable to open mesh hernioplasty especially for larger hernias.     

Long-Term Durability and Comfort of Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair

Background:

Repair of ventral hernias, including primary ventral hernias and incisional ventral hernias, is performed in the United States 90,000 times per year. Open or traditional ventral hernia repairs involve the significant morbidity and expense of a laparotomy and a significant risk of recurrent herniation. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) may offer a less-invasive alternative with shorter length of hospital stay, fewer cardiopulmonary complications, and low recurrence rates.

Methods:

225 patients underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repairs in which carboxymethylcellulose-sodium hyaluronate coating (Sepramesh, Davol, Providence, RI) was used primarily. All cases were included prospectively from the study period of 2002 through 2009. Patient characteristics were recorded, and follow-up analysis was performed over a period of 42 mo following surgery. Recurrence, reoperations, and all complications were recorded. Mesh awareness and mesh-related pain were assessed using the hernia-specific Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS) instrument, completed by 72 patients.

Results:

Over 42 mo of follow-up, 2 ventral hernias have recurred, and no long-term bowel erosion or fistulization has occurred. Little or no mesh-related symptoms were reported, and mean scores for mesh awareness and mesh pain were 3.6 and 3.2, respectively, on a scale from 0–40 (lower scores signify less pain or awareness). Two serious early complications occurred related to intestinal ileus and metal tacks producing intestinal perforation, and this led to a change in the tacking devices used.

Conclusions:

LVHR with carboxymethylcellulose-sodium hyaluronate coating (Sepramesh) is safe and effective. Complications are rare, the repair is durable, and long-term results are good with rare recurrences, low awareness of mesh, and little pain. Technical lessons include use of at least one transfascial suture and the avoidance of metal tacks for fixation.     

Laparoscopic repair of incisional and ventral hernia

The application of laparoscopic principles to ventral or incisional hernia repair has recently been shown to be a safe and effective alternative to open procedures. In this study we analyzed our recent experience with laparoscopic incisional-ventral hernia repair. The outcomes of 75 consecutive patients (January 2002 to July 2006) who underwent laparoscopic repair for incisional-ventral hernia were reviewed. Patient's demographics, hernia parameters, and intraoperative and postoperative data were collected. Of the 75 patients, 44 were females and 31 males. Mean age was 59.1 yrs (range 29-80 yrs). Mean BMI was 25.9 (range 19.4-36.7). Twenty-one patients had primary ventral hernias while 54 patients had an incisional hernia. Fifty-three patients had a single defect and 22 patients multiple defects. In 45 cases the incisional hernia was a primary hernia; in 4 cases it was a first recurrence; in 2 cases a 2nd recurrence; and in 3 cases a 3rd recurrence. The mean defect size was 52,7 cm2 (range 4-432). Laparoscopic hernia repair was successfully performed in 71 cases (94.7%). The mean mesh size was 211 cm2 (range 63-694). Mean operating time was 101 min (range 50-220 min). The mean hospital stay was 4.7 days. The postoperative morbidity rate was 14%. After a mean follow-up of 24.6 months (range 7-56) the recurrence rate was 7% (5/71). Laparoscopic repair of incisional-ventral hernias seems to be safe and effective. Medium-term outcomes were promising with a relatively low rate of conversion to open surgery, a low complication rate and a low risk of recurrence.     

Medium-term follow-up confirms the safety and durability of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with PTFE

BACKGROUND: Ventral abdominal wall hernias are common lesions and may be associated with life-threatening complications. The application of laparoscopic principles to the treatment of ventral hernias has reduced recurrence rates from a range of 25% to 52% to a range of 3.4% to 9%. In this study, we review our experience and assess the clinical outcome of patients who have undergone laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias. METHODS: We reviewed the outcome of 79 patients with more than 1 year of follow-up who underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair between March 1996 and December 2001. Patient demographics, hernia characteristics, operative parameters, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 79 patients, 37 were males. Mean age was 55.8 years (range 28-81). Sixty-eight patients had incisional hernias, including 17 with recurrent hernias. Eleven patients had primary ventral hernias. The mean defect size was 103 cm(2) (range 4-510); incarceration was present in 22 patients (27.8%), and multiple (Swiss-cheese) defects in 20 (25.3%). Laparoscopic expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh repair by the modified Rives-Stoppa technique was completed in 78 (98.7%). One conversion occurred because of bowel injury. The mean operating time was 110 minutes (range 45-210) and mean hospital stay was 1.7 days (range 0-20), with 46 patients (58.2%) being discharged within 24 hours of surgery. Complications included seroma formation (3), chronic pain (3), prolonged ileus (1), hematoma formation (1), and missed bowel injury (1) for a complication rate of (11.4%). There were no deaths. After a follow-up of up to 6 years (a mean of 34 months), there were 4 recurrences (5%). CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias is safe, effective, and durable with minimal morbidity. It is particularly successful in patients with recurrent lesions. The laparoscopic approach to ventral hernia repair should be considered the standard of care.     

腹腔镜治疗成人食管裂孔疝手术适应证的选择(附20例报告)

目的探讨腹腔镜修补术治疗食管裂孔疝的适应证,总结相关临床治疗经验。方法回顾性分析武汉市中心医院疝与腹壁外科自2013年1月至2015年6月期间收治的20例食管裂孔疝病人的临床资料。结果 20例病人均行腹腔镜疝修补治疗,临床症状好转出院,其中14例行补片修补,6例行单纯缝合修补。手术时间为40~120 min,平均手术时间为75 min;失血量为10~50 ml,平均为25 ml;住院时间为3~8 d,平均为4.5 d;术后无严重并发症。术后1个月复查上消化道钡餐检查均显示疝囊复位良好。术后随访1年半,未见症状复现及疝复发。结论合理选择手术适应证是腹腔镜治疗食管裂孔疝的关键。