Intraperitoneal modification of the Rives-Stoppa repair for large incisional hernias

Introduction Recurrence rates for open repair of ventral/incisonal hernias historically range from 6% for the classic Rives-Stoppa repair to 35–45% for some of the techniques more commonly used in the United States. We report a modification to the classic Rives-Stoppa repair that allows intraperitoneal placement of the prosthetic, secured with a running suture. The abdominal muscles are closed over the mesh to protect it from any superficial wound problems that might develop and to restore normal architecture of the abdominal wall. Method A chart review was undertaken on all patients undergoing open ventral incisional hernia repair by a single surgeon from 2000 to 2006. All hernias were repaired with the intraperitoneal modification mimicking the principles of the Rives-Stoppa repair. Patient characteristics and operative and postoperative data were collected. Primary outcome was recurrence of hernia. Secondary outcomes were complications and rate of mesh infection. Results One hundred and fifteen patients were evaluated. Thirty-four patients had repair of recurrent ventral hernias. The average patient was obese, female, and 59 years old. Twenty-five patients used tobacco, eleven were diabetic, and seven used chronic corticosteroids. Meshes utilized included ePTFE, coated polyester, coated polypropylene, and biologic mesh. Average size of mesh was 465.4 cm². There were four recurrences (3.4%), three of which were due to mesh infection requiring mesh removal. Recurrence rate not secondary to mesh removal was 0.9%. Complications occurred in 26% with seroma formation being the most frequent (16%). Conclusion The intraperitoneal modification to the original Rives-Stoppa repair leads to a very low recurrence rate for large ventral hernia repairs with minimal complications and low rate of mesh infection. Presented at the 2007 American Hernia Society Meeting, Hollywood, FL, USA.     

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.     

Review of technique for combined closed incisional hernia repair and panniculectomy status post-open bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: After open bariatric surgery, many patients develop incisional hernia. Patients who were once morbidly obese provide a unique challenge to hernia repair, given the larger nature of their fascial defects and the concomitant problem of extreme amounts of abdominal wall laxity. We reviewed a technique for surgical repair of incisional hernias combined with panniculectomy. METHODS: A retrospective review of 50 consecutive patients status post-open bariatric surgery who underwent incisional hernia repair with overlay mesh and combined panniculectomy between 2000 and 2003. RESULTS: Hernia repair and panniculectomy were performed 18 months after open bariatric surgery. The patients had an average weight loss of 58.6 kg. Mean follow-up after hernia repair and panniculectomy was 18 months. Patients underwent prefascial hernia repair with plication of the fascial edges followed by midline anchoring of overlay mesh. The averave amount of excess tissue excised via panniculectomy was 3,001 g. The average hospital stay was 4 days. Minor wound problems (eg, suture abscess, seroma) occurred in 20 patients. Seromas were treated with serial aspiration in the office. There were no intra-abdominal complications or recurrences of the incisional hernias. CONCLUSION: Closed hernia repair with prefascial plication and overlay mesh is a safe, effective alternative to traditional incisional hernia repair. It provides adequate hernia repair without recurrence and eliminates intra-abdominal complications. It is our belief that combining the hernia repair and panniculectomy minimizes the risk of hernia recurrence through alleviation of stress on the repair by removing excess abdominal wall tissue.     

Treatment of large incisional abdominal wall hernias, using a modified preperitoneal prosthetic mesh repair

Very large and complex incisional hernias, especially those with loss of abdominal wall, can be a very interesting and perplexing problem, which present a particular challenge to the surgeon. The reported technique was developed and refined by one of our surgeons, between 1998 and 1999 for the repair of incisional hernias in a selected group of patients with large defects, often with a major loss of abdominal wall, overweight and previous attempts for incisional hernia repair. The technique involves a modified preperitoneal approach and was used on 43 eligible patients between 1999 and 2002. There were 30 females and 13 males at a mean age of 61 years. The median ASA score of the group was 2, with a mean BMI of 30.4 and a mean hernia surface area of 162 cm². One-third of the patients had one or more previous incisional hernia repair. Mean operating time was 190 min with an average hospital stay of 5.7 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 28% of the patients, most of which were minor and did not necessitate admission to the intensive care unit. None of the patients died. Wound infections occurred in 9.3%, was associated with an increased risk for cutaneous sinus formation, but not for mesh removal or hernia recurrence. A recurrence rate of 12.5% was found after a mean follow-up period of 46 months. We advocate this procedure for the repair of large, complex incisional hernias with loss of abdominal domain in patients with significant risk factors for recurrence.     

Concurrent Gastric Bypass and Repair of Anterior Abdominal Wall Hernias

Background: Many patients seeking surgical treatment for morbid obesity present with anterior abdominal wall hernias. Although principles of hernia repair involve a tension-free repair with the use of prosthetic mesh, there is concern about the use of mesh in gastric bypass surgery due to potential contamination with the contents of the gastrointestinal tract and resultant mesh infection. We report our series of patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) and simultaneous anterior abdominal wall hernia repair. Methods: All patients who underwent simultaneous RYGBP surgery and anterior abdominal wall hernia repair were reviewed. Results: 12 patients underwent concurrent RYGBP and anterior wall hernia repair. There were 5 women and 7 men with average age 54.9 ± 8.5 years (range 35 to 64) and average body mass index (BMI) 50.4 ± 10.3 kg/m² (range 38 to 70). Two open and 10 laparoscopic RYGBP operations were performed. Nine patients (75%) underwent incisional hernia repairs and 3 patients (25%) underwent umbilical hernia repair concurrent with gastric bypass. Average size of defect was 14.7 ± 13.4 cm². One patient had primary repair and 11 patients had prosthetic mesh repair: polypropylene in 3 patients (25%) and polyester in 8 patients (67%). With a 14.1 ± 9.3 month follow-up, there have been no mesh infections and 2 recurrences, one in the patient who underwent primary repair and one in a patient repaired with polyester mesh but with two previous failed incisional hernia repairs. Conclusion: Concurrent RYGBP and repair of anterior abdominal wall hernias is safe and feasible. In order to optimize success, tension-free principles of hernia repair with the use of prosthetic mesh should be followed since no mesh infections occurred in our series.     

Outcomes of the open mesh repair of large incisional hernias using an intraperitoneal composite mesh: our experience with 100 cases

Incisional hernia repair sometimes requires intraperitoneal implantation of a mesh. This becomes necessary when the hernia opening is large, in particular, in patients with a low abdominal wall surface/wall defect surface (AWS/WDS) ratio, in large boundary incisional hernias where the proximity to bone structures or cartilage often complicates retromuscular mesh implantation and in multi-recurrent incisional hernias that are sometimes characterised by an actual loss of abdominal wall tissue. The authors report on the results of a series of 100 incisional hernias treated between 1999 and 2006 using the open technique to implant an intraperitoneal mesh (Parietex Composite). Mean follow-up time was 42 months (range 12–96 months). The mean wall defect surface was 95 cm² (range 60–210 cm²). Twelve percent of patients suffered minor complications: 5 seromas (5%), 3 haematomas (3%) and 4 parietal suppurations (4%). No mesh had to be removed. The recurrence rate was 6%. At 6 months after surgery, no patient lamented pain or discomfort due to foreign body sensation. None of these patients presented intestinal occlusion or enterocutaneous fistulae. In conclusion, it is our opinion that the mesh should be implanted in direct contact with the viscera only where absolutely necessary, i.e., when it cannot be implanted in the retromuscular area without creating excessive parietal tension. Our experience with PC mesh, over the short-to-medium term, was positive. Naturally, further studies are required to evaluate long-term biocompatibility.     

Surgical treatment of large incisional hernias by an intraperitoneal Dacron mesh and an aponeurotic graft

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic problems of giant incisional hernias of the abdominal wall are difficult to resolve. The technique of repair must make up for the loss of abdominal wall substance and reestablish the interplay of the abdominal musculature. The use of prosthetic materials complies with these two imperatives. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of postoperative incisional hernias by intraperitoneal insertion of Dacron (DuPont) mesh and an aponeurotic graft. STUDY DESIGN: We prospectively studied 350 consecutive patients who were operated on for giant postoperative incisional hernia. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality was 0.6%. Seven patients (2%) developed subcutaneous infections that did not affect the prostheses. Another seven patients (2%) developed deep-seated infections that necessitated removal of the mesh in five cases. Eleven patients (3.1%) had recurrence of incisional hernia. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study shows that the intraperitoneal positioning of Dacron mesh and an aponeurotic graft can efficiently treat giant abdominal wall hernias.     

Day surgery for laparoscopic repair of abdominal wall hernias

Laparoscopic repair of abdominal wall hernias is still a controversial and nongeneralized therapeutic option. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the results of laparoscopic surgery on abdominal wall hernias at a day-surgery unit and to describe our procedure protocol. Prospective analysis of 300 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for abdominal wall hernias was conducted: 260 preperitoneal and 40 intraperitoneal. The patients' clinical features, hernia type, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and follow-up are studied for both types of surgery. All the patients receiving surgery with extraperitoneal laparoscopy were completed as a day-surgical procedure with a rate of conversion to open surgery of 2.3%. Twelve (30%) of the 40 patients operated on for ventral hernias using intraperitoneal laparoscopy required hospitalization: five for perioperative complications and seven for pain (16%). There was no case of infection or mesh rejection. The recurrence rates were 0.78% (two cases) for the inguinal hernias and 2.5% (one case) for the ventral hernias. In conclusion, laparoscopic repair of abdominal wall hernias in a day-surgery setting is an efficient alternative to open surgery. Electronic Publication     

补片修补腹壁切口疝的临床应用

目的探讨腹壁切口疝的治疗。方法回顾性分析150例腹壁切口疝患者的临床资料。（1）肌腱膜上补片置入手术（ONLAY）126例；（2）筋膜前（腹膜前）、肌下补片置入手术（SUBLAY）4例；（3）缺损处直接补片置入途径（INLAY）13例；（4）腹膜腔内补片置入术（Introperitonealsite）7例。结果平均年龄58．5岁，女性占52．5％。上腹部切口36％，下腹部切口占64％。全部采用合成材料修补。聚丙烯材料130例，聚四氟乙烯-聚丙烯双面材料16例，强生Proceed补片4例，开腹手术143例，腹腔镜手术7例。复发3例，手术复发率为2％。结论ONLAY手术安全可靠，复发率低，是可以接受的切口疝修补方法，避免伤口感染，防治腹内压升高，促进伤口愈合，保证缝合质量是预防切口疝关键。     

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.     

Surgical treatment of postoperative incisional hernias by intraperitoneal insertion of dacron mesh and an aponeurotic graft: a report on 250 cases.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic problems of giant incisional hernias of the abdominal wall are often difficult to resolve. The technique of repair must make up for the loss of abdominal wall substance and reestablish the interplay of the abdominal musculature. The use of prosthetic materials complies with these 2 imperatives. HYPOTHESIS: The results of surgical treatment of postoperative incisional hernias by intraperitoneal insertion of Dacron mesh and an aponeurotic graft were evaluated. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study of 250 patients in a university hospital. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality was 0.8%. Five patients (2%) developed a subcutaneous infection that did not affect the prosthesis. Another 5 patients (2%) developed a deep-seated infection that necessitated removal of the mesh in 3 cases. Eight patients (3.2%) had recurrence of incisional hernia. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study shows that giant abdominal wall hernias can be efficiently treated by the intraperitoneal positioning of Dacron mesh and an aponeurotic graft.     

Laparoscopic transperitoneal sublay mesh repair: a new technique for the cure of ventral and incisional hernias

Background

Incisional hernia is a frequent complication after abdominal surgery. Today open sublay mesh repair and the laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair are the most widely used techniques for its cure. We developed a laparoscopic transperitoneal sublay mesh repair for the treatment of small- and medium-size ventral and incisional hernias. Outcomes of the new technique and the Rives–Stoppa repair were compared.

Methods

This prospective cohort study with a control group involved 93 patients. Between 2008 and 2010, 43 patients underwent the laparoscopic transperitoneal sublay mesh repair. During the same period of time, a control group of 50 patients underwent an open sublay repair after Rives and Stoppa. In 2011, all patients were invited for follow-up. This included pain assessments and physical examinations with use of ultrasound.

Results

The two groups were comparable in terms of patient characteristics and hernia data. The operating time was slightly longer for the laparoscopic technique. The hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopy group. There was less chronic pain in the laparoscopy group, but this difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in postoperative complications, use of analgetics, foreign body sensation, and paresthesia between the two groups. We found one long-term hematoma in the laparoscopy group and one seroma in the open group. In this series, there were no recurrences and no wound infections.

Conclusions

Our initial results indicate that the new laparoscopic transperitoneal sublay mesh repair is a safe and effective method for the treatment of small- and medium-size ventral and incisional hernias.     

Repair of giant abdominal wall hernias with full-thickness skin transplants in high-risk patients

The repair of giant abdominal hernias in high-risk obese patients remains a great challenge. There is no single simple surgical procedure to provide correction for this condition, and the risk for recurrence of hernia is high. Moreover, the insertion of a foreign material, i.e., synthetic mesh, adds an increased risk of infection, particularly in the presence of concomitant immunosuppressant therapy or diabetes. Eight patients, classified ASA 3–4, with giant abdominal wall hernias had 3 months pre-treatment with a custom-made compressive garment before abdominal wall repair. Four patients had a stoma at the time of surgery. Abdominal wall reconstruction was undertaken by realignment of the rectus muscles and fascia under tension. The fascia repair was stabilized with a full-thickness skin overlay graft. Early complications included two wound infections and one seroma. Two patients had pulmonary insufficiencies and required intensive care management. One complete recurrence of hernia was noted at follow-up. Full-thickness skin overlay grafts can be recommended in high-risk patients with abdominal wall hernias when the use of foreign material such as synthetic mesh is contraindicated.     

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: a new method for fixation of the mesh with sutures

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic technique has proven to be a safe and feasible alternative to open mesh repair in the treatment of ventral hernias. It has been seen that the recurrence rate is the same as with open repair but with lesser morbidity. For the repair of ventral hernia with laparoscopy, mesh is placed intraperitoneally. The most common approach for intraperitoneal fixation of the mesh is by using a combination of transfascial sutures and tackers. This paper describes a new technique for intraperitoneal fixation of the mesh using sutures. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Adhesions to the previous scar are taken down. Mesh is anchored to the abdominal wall using 4 transfascial sutures at the 4 corners of the mesh. Fixation of the mesh between the transfascial sutures is performed by a new technique using continuous sutures. Fixation of the mesh with tacks is not required. CONCLUSIONS: This is a novel technique for fixation of the mesh to the abdominal wall intraperitoneally during laparoscopic repair of ventral hernia. Tackers are not required for the fixation of mesh.     

Incisional hernia treatment with progressive pneumoperitoneum and retromuscular prosthetic hernioplasty

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Major incisional hernias of the abdominal wall often pose a serious surgical problem. The choice between simple suture repair and mesh repair remains uncertain. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients underwent surgery to repair large abdominal incisional hernias, i.e., with parietal defects of 10 cm or more, by retromuscular prosthetic hernioplasty between 1996 and 1999. All patients were treated preoperatively by progressive pneumoperitoneum and were followed up for 2-5 years (mean 38.3 months). RESULTS: Almost all patients tolerated the pneumoperitoneum; no postoperative death occurred. Six patients developed a subcutaneous infection but none of them required removal of the mesh. Two patients (2.6%) had recurrent incisional hernia. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that pneumoperitoneum is useful in preparing patients for incisional hernioplasty. Retromuscular mesh repair represents an appropriate surgical procedure, particularly in view of its low rate of recurrence.     

应用合成补片修补腹壁切口疝的经验总结

目的:探讨腹壁切口疝病人的无张力手术治疗方法和疗效.方法:回顾性分析我院2000年7月至2008年6月间收治的215例应用合成补片修补腹壁切口疝病人的临床资料.结果:215例中101例采用IPOM方法,有1例复发,复发率0.99%;97例采用Stoppa方法,有3例复发,复发率3.09%;17例采用肌前修补法,有3例复发,复发率17.6%.在21例复发疝病人中,16例采用了IPOM方法,无再复发病例;5例采用了Stoppa方法,有1例再复发,复发率20%.结论:IPOM方法和Stoppa方法的手术适应症宽、复发率低.IPOM方法对于复发的切口疝病人有更好的治疗效果.术者的经验和方法的正确性对修补的成功均有重要意义.     

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with extraperitoneal mesh: surgical technique and early results

Laparoscopic repair of ventral abdominal wall hernias involves intraperitoneal placement of a mesh, which may lead to adhesion formation and bowel fistulation. The first series of selected patients with ventral abdominal wall hernias treated laparoscopically by extraperitoneal placement of a polypropylene mesh is presented. Thirty-four patients (24 women and 10 men; median age, 52 years [range, 34-70]) were selected from among 122 patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Of these patients, 18 had a primary ventral abdominal wall hernia and 16 had an incisional hernia. After reduction of sac contents and adhesiolysis intraperitoneally, a large flap of peritoneum (with extraperitoneal fat, fascia, and posterior rectus sheath where present) was raised to accommodate a suitably sized polypropylene mesh, which was then covered again with the peritoneal flap at the end of the procedure. Intraoperatively, apart from circumcision of the hernial sac at the neck, a total of 24 iatrogenic peritoneal tears occurred in 20 patients, mainly at the site of the previous scar. In two patients, it was observed that greater than 25% of the mesh was exposed after the procedure. The median (+/-SD) duration of hospitalization postoperatively was 1 day (+/-0.56). One patient's hernia recurred 4 months after surgery, and one patient's infected mesh was removed 8 months after surgery. Laparoscopic extraperitoneal placement of a mesh is feasible and appears to be an advance over laparoscopic intraperitoneal mesh placement for ventral abdominal wall hernias in selected patients. However, longer follow-up and controlled clinical trials will be necessary before any firm conclusions can be drawn.     

Laparoscopic repair of incarcerated ventral abdominal wall hernias

Background  The role of laparoscopy in the management of incarcerated (irreducible) ventral hernia remains to be elucidated. We present our experience of the laparoscopic repair of incarcerated primary ventral and incisional hernias over an 8-year period. Methods  A retrospective review of the records of 112 patients undergoing laparoscopic repair for incarcerated primary ventral and incisional hernias from January 1998 to February 2006 was performed. The patient demographics, perioperative data, and postoperative complications were assessed. Results  The procedure was completed entirely laparoscopically in 103 patients (91.9%) with the placement of intraperitoneal mesh. A sutured tissue repair (without mesh) was performed in seven patients and hernia repair was abandoned after laparoscopy in two patients. Five patients required limited conversion by a targeted skin incision for the resection of nonviable bowel (three patients) and to complete adhesiolysis within multiloculated hernial sacs (two patients). The contents of the hernial sacs were incarcerated omentum (42 patients), small bowel (28 patients), large bowel (six patients), and omentum and small bowel (34 patients). Of these, seven patients presented with signs of acute small-bowel obstruction. The mean size of the largest defect through which incarceration occurred was 3.5 ± 1.6 cm (range 1.5–7.5 cm) and the mean size of the mesh used was 379 ± 210 cm² (range 225–780 cm²). The mean operative time was 96 ± 40.8 min (range 50–170 min). Inadvertent enterotomy occurred in four patients during bowel reduction and adhesiolysis. In two patients, the enterotomy was repaired by total laparoscopy followed by mesh placement, and two patients required conversion to formal laparotomy due to long-segment tears and peritoneal contamination. The average postoperative hospital stay was 2.8 ± 1.5 days (range 1–6.5 days). Postoperative complications occurred in 20.5% patients. There was no mortality. Hernia recurred in three patients at a mean follow-up of 48 ± 28.3 months (range 1–84 months). Conclusion  Laparoscopic ventral abdominal wall hernia repair can be safely performed with a low complication rate, even in incarcerated hernias. Careful bowel reduction with adhesiolysis and mesh repair in an uncontaminated abdomen with a 5-cm mesh overlap remain key factors for a successful outcome.     

Laparoscopic repair of incisional hernia: Outcomes of 100 consecutive cases comprising 25 wall defects larger than 15 cm

Background Minimal access surgery for incisional hernia repair is still debated, especially for large and giant wall defects. This study was undertaken to analyze the results of the use of the laparoscopic technique in incisional hernias smaller and larger than 15 cm of diameter. Method From 2002 to 2007 a total of 100 patients with incisional hernia were operated on by laparoscopy and were included in this study. As much as 38 patients were obese, with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m². The mean follow-up span was 24 months (range = 2–58). The fascial defect was recurrent in 19 patients, in 13 after previous repair with mesh and in 6 after repair without mesh. The wall defect was larger than 15 cm in 25 patients and in 6 of them it was 20 cm or larger as measured from within the peritoneal cavity. Results The mean operating time was 152 ± 25 min (range = 45–275), and for defects larger than 15 cm it was 205 ± 101 min (range = 85–540). Two patients with massive adhesions needed conversion to open surgery, one after an intraoperative injury of an intestinal loop. Postoperative complications occurred in 23 patients; local complications were 10. Pulmonary embolism caused death in one obese patient. Morbidity and hospital stay were similar in obese and nonobese patients and the differences were not statistically relevant (p > 0.05). The outcomes in patients with wall defects larger than 15 cm showed no significant difference with outcomes of the remaining patients with smaller defects (p > 0.05). Recurrence occurred in three cases, and in one case local infection led to removal of the mesh. Conclusions Minimal access procedures can provide good results in the repair of incisional hernia, even when the diameter is larger than 15 cm. Obesity is not a contraindication to laparoscopic repair. Further studies are expected to confirm these promising results. An erratum to this article can be found at     

The partial underlay preperitoneal with panniculectomy repair for incisional abdominal hernia in the morbidly obese

BackgroundBecause of high frequency, high morbidity, and difficulty of repair, incisional hernias in obese patients represent a particularly vexing and common problem for surgeons. The objective of this study was to describe a highly selective technique for incisional hernia repair with panniculectomy in the morbidly obese. We also describe perioperative characteristics and preliminary outcomes for a limited series of patients who underwent this procedure.MethodsWe performed a preperitoneal partial mesh underlay with a panniculectomy (PUPP) on 10 patients with incisional hernias and a body mass index (BMI)>40 kg/m². The hernia repair was performed by a general surgery team, and the panniculectomy was performed by a plastic surgery team. We retrospectively analyzed perioperative variables for each patient. Phone interviews were conducted to obtain follow-up.ResultsMean patient age was 53 years (range 32–75 yr) with mean BMI of 46 kg/m² (range 41–60 kg/m²). Patients had a history of 3.4 average prior abdominal operations, and a median of 3 prior hernia repairs. The average operative time was 371 minutes with a mean estimated blood loss of 162 ccs. Three patients experienced a minor wound complication. There were no major wound complications, and the 30-day mortality rate was zero. At a median and average follow-up time of 805 and 345 days, respectively, one patient developed a hernia recurrence. Patients were satisfied with their appearance and the hernia repair, with mean satisfaction scores of 4.3 and 4.9 out of 5 (very satisfied), respectively.ConclusionThe PUPP hernia repair is a viable option for incisional herniorrhaphy and concurrent panniculectomy in the morbidly obese.