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.     

Preliminary results of a two-layered prosthetic repair for recurrent inguinal and ventral hernias combining open and laparoscopic techniques

The use of prosthetic mesh has become the standard of care in the management of hernias because of its association with a low rate of recurrence. However, despite its use, recurrence rates of 1% have been reported in primary inguinal repair and rates as high as 15% with ventral hernia repair. When dealing with difficult recurrent hernias, the two-layer prosthetic repair technique is a good option. In the event of incarcerated or strangulated hernias, however; placement of prosthetic material is controversial due to the increased risk of infection. The same is true when hernia repairs are performed concurrently with potentially contaminated procedures such as cholecystectomy, appendectomy, or colectomy. The purpose of this study is to report our preliminary results on the treatment of recurrent hernias by combining laparoscopic and open techniques to construct a two-layered prosthetic repair using a four ply mesh of porcine small intestine submucosa (Surgisis®, Cook Surgical, Bloomington, IN, USA) in a potentially infected field and a combination of polypropylene and ePTFE (Gore-Tex®, W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) in a clean field. From September 2002 to January 2004, nine patients (three males and six females) underwent laparoscopic and open placement of surgisis mesh in a two layered fashion for either recurrent incisional or inguinal hernias in a contaminated field. A total of eight recurrent hernia repairs were performed (five incisional, three inguinal) and one abdominal wall repair after resection of a metastatic tumor following open colectomy for colon carcinoma. Six procedures were performed in a potentially contaminated field (incarcerated or strangulated bowel within the hernia), two procedures were performed in a contaminated field because of infected polypropylene mesh, and one was in a clean field. Mean patient age was 56.4 years. The average operating time was 156.8 min. Operative findings included seven incarcerated hernias (four incisional and three inguinal), one strangulated inguinal hernia, and one ventral defect after resection of an abdominal wall metastasis for a previous colon cancer resection. In two of the cases, there was an abscess of a previously placed polypropylene mesh. All procedures were completed with two layers of mesh (eight cases with surgisis and one with combination of polypropylene/ePTFE). Median follow up was 10 months. Complications included two seromas, one urinary tract infection, two cases of atelectasis and one prolonged ileus. There were no wound infections. The average postoperative length of stay was 7.8 days. There have been no mesh-related complications or recurrent hernias in our early postoperative follow-up period. The use of a new prosthetic device in infected or potentially infected fields, and the two-layered approach shows promising results. This is encouraging and provides an alternative approach for the management of difficult, recurrent hernias.     

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: an initial institutional experience

BACKGROUND: Ventral and incisional hernias remain a problem for surgeons with reported recurrence rates of 25-50% for open repairs. Laparoscopic approaches offer several theoretical advantages over open repairs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing a laparoscopic ventral hernia repair from April to December 2000 were prospectively entered in a database. Patients underwent repair with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene dual mesh. Full-thickness abdominal wall nonabsorbable sutures and 5-mm tacks were placed circumferentially. RESULTS: Of 32 patients, 15 underwent incisional repair, 13 had repair of a recurrent incisional hernia, and 4 had repair of a primary abdominal wall defect. Two procedures [2/32; 6.3%] were converted to open, one for loss of abdominal domain and one for neovascularization due to cirrhosis. There were two early recurrences [2/30; 6.7%]. Both of these failures occurred in patients with hernia defects extending to the inguinal ligament, preventing placement of full-thickness abdominal wall sutures inferiorly. Average operating time was 128 +/- 42 min (range 37-225 min). Average length of stay was 1.8 days [range 0-7 days]. There were no transfusion requirements or wound infections. One patient underwent a small bowel resection after completion of repair. One patient required drainage of a seroma 4 weeks after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair can be safely performed with an acceptable early recurrence rate, operative time, length of stay, and morbidity. Securing the mesh with full-thickness abdominal wall sutures in at least four quadrants remains a key factor in preventing early recurrence.     

Laparoscopic Incisional Hernia Repair in Liver Transplant and Other Immunosuppressed Patients

We report the early results of laparoscopic incisional hernia repair in a small group of immunosuppressed patients and compare these results with a cohort of patients with open repair. We describe a modification used to secure the cephalad portion of the Gore-Tex mesh in high epigastric incisional hernias often encountered after liver transplantation. Data were gathered retrospectively for all incisional hernia repairs by our group from March 1996 to January 2001. Twelve of 13 attempted patients had successful completion of their laparoscopic hernia repairs with no reported recurrences to date. Two of these procedures were performed for recurrent hernias. We completed nine of nine attempted laparoscopic hernia repairs in liver transplant patients with epigastric incisional hernias. We repaired two of three attempted lower midline incisional hernias in renal disease patients. One of these patients was soon able to reuse his peritoneal dialysis catheter. A total of 15 patients, 12 with liver transplants, underwent open repair of their incisional hernias. These patients had seven recurrences and/or serious mesh infections with five patients electing repeated operations. In our initial series, laparoscopic mesh repair of incisional hernias is practical and safe in the abdominal organ transplant population with a low incidence of early recurrence and serious infections.     

Adhesion formation after laparoscopic ventral incisional hernia repair with polypropylene mesh: a study using abdominal ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic repair of ventral incisional hernias is feasible and safe. Polypropylene mesh is often preferred because of its ease of handling and lower cost. Complications like adhesion and fistula formation can occur. The goal of this study was to determine whether bowel adhesions and their attendant complications could be prevented by interposition of omentum. METHODS: Thirty patients underwent laparoscopic ventral incisional hernias repair with polypropylene mesh. Omentum was always positioned over the loops of bowel for protection. At a mean follow-up of 14 months, 20 patients underwent ultrasonic examination using the previously described visceral slide technique to detect adhesions. RESULTS: The mean size of the hernias in the study was 50.3 cm2, and the mean size of the mesh applied was 275 cm2. Thirteen patents (65%) had no sonographically detectable adhesions. Five patients demonstrated adhesions between the mesh and omentum, 1 patient developed adhesions between the left lobe of the liver and the mesh, and only 1 case of bowel adhesion to the edge of the mesh was found. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic ventral incisional hernias repair with polypropylene mesh and omental interposition is not associated with visceral adhesions in the majority of patients. Polypropylene mesh can be used safely when adequate omental coverage is available.     

Laparoscopic repair of large incisional hernias

Incisional hernias after abdominal operations are a significant cause of long-term morbidity and have been reported to occur in 3 to 20 per cent of laparotomy incisions. Traditional primary suture closure repair is plagued with up to a 50 per cent recurrence rate. With the introduction of prosthetic mesh repair recurrence decreased, but complications with mesh placement emerged ushering in the development of laparoscopic incisional herniorrhaphy. The records of patients who underwent laparoscopic incisional hernia repair between June 1, 1995 and September 1, 2001 were reviewed. Patient demographics, hernia defect size, recurrence, operative time, and procedure-related complications were evaluated. Fifty patients (22 male and 28 female, mean age 57 years with range of 24-83) were scheduled for laparoscopic incisional hernia repair between June 1, 1995 and September 1, 2001. The average patient was obese with a mean body mass index of 35.8 kg/m2 (range 16-57 kg/m2). Two patients (4%) had primary ventral hernias. Forty-eight patients (96%) had incisional hernias with 22 (46%) of these previously repaired with prosthetic mesh. Mean defect size was 206.1 cm2 (range 48-594 cm2). The average mesh size was 510.2 cm2 (range 224-1050 cm2). Gore-Tex DualMesh and Bard Composite Mesh were used in 84 and 16 per cent of the repairs, respectively. Mean operating time was 97 minutes. There were no deaths. Complications were seen in 12 per cent patients (six occurrences) and included two small bowel enterotomies, a symptomatic seroma requiring aspirate, a mesh reaction requiring a short course of intravenous antibiotics, and trocar site pain (two patients). There were no recurrences during a mean follow-up of 41 months (range 3-74 months). We conclude that laparoscopic incisional herniorrhaphy offers a safe and effective repair for large primary and recurrent ventral hernia with low morbidity.     

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair using a two (5-mm) port technique.

OBJECTIVE: High recurrence rates have been documented after primary repair of incisional hernias. Laparoscopic ventral and incisional hernia repairs have been performed with very low rates of recurrence. We have modified the standard technique of laparoscopic repair in patients with small incisional and ventral hernias. The purpose of this study was to document the technique utilizing only two 5-mm ports and demonstrate that it is safe, effective, and feasible. METHODS: Three patients with small incisional or ventral hernias were examined. The standard laparoscopic ventral hernia repair technique was modified as follows: two 5-mm ports were inserted on opposite sides of the defect. The defects ranged from 2.5 cm to 4 cm in size. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh (DualMesh, WL Gore, Flagstaff, AZ) was used to cover the hernia defect, overlapping the defect margins circumferentially by 3 cm. The mesh diameter ranged from 8.5 cm to 10 cm. The mesh was inserted through a 5-mm skin incision site and affixed into position with transfascial sutures and spiral tacks. RESULTS: The operative time ranged from 53 minutes to 57 minutes. All patients were discharged home the day of surgery and reported minimal postoperative pain. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 1 year; all patients were doing well without recurrence. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic repair of ventral or incisional hernias can be performed using only two 5-mm ports. This technique can be done on an outpatient basis in a safe, timely fashion.     

Intra Peritoneal Polypropylene Mesh and Newer Meshes in Ventral Hernia Repair: What EBM Says?

Incisional hernias and other ventral hernias are common surgical problems. It is estimated that incisional hernia complicates about 2 % to 10 % of laparotomies. Ventral and incisional hernia repairs are among the common surgeries done by a general surgeon. It is proven beyond any doubt that suture repair of these hernias should not be done as recurrence rates are unacceptably high, some series reporting as high as 54 % on long-term follow-up. A prosthetic mesh should always be used in ventral hernia repair (VHR). Now, the polypropylene mesh (PPM) has become the prosthetic mesh of choice in the repair of hernias, including inguinal hernia. However, with the advent of laparoscopic repair where the mesh is placed intraperitoneally, concerns regarding safety of PPM are raised. Newer meshes are introduced, claiming lesser complication rate. Many types of newer meshes are available now. Newer meshes are invariably costlier than PPM by 15–20 times. Is this extra cost worth? We looked in to available literature for an answer.     

Laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repair (LIVH): an evolving outpatient technique.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The contemporary results of open incisional and ventral hernia repair are unsatisfactory because of high recurrence rates and morbidity levels. Laparoscopic repair of ventral and incisional hernias (LIVH) can be accomplished in a simple, reproducible manner while dramatically lowering recurrence rates and morbidity. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patents underwent laparoscopic repair of their ventral and incisional hernias over a 27-month period. Composix mesh and Composix E/X mesh (Davol Inc., Cranston, RI) were utilized for the repairs. Transfixion sutures were not used. RESULTS: All repairs were completed laparoscopically. No conversions to open techniques were necessary. No postoperative infections have been observed. One recurrent hernia was identified and subsequently repaired with the same technique. CONCLUSIONS: LIVH can be accomplished with a dramatic reduction in recurrence rates and morbidity. The technique for this repair is still in a state of evolution. The construction and handling characteristics of this particular type of mesh have allowed us to eliminate transfixion sutures and to simplify the repair technique while maintaining a very low recurrence rate.     

Preliminary experience with new bioactive prosthetic material for repair of hernias in infected fields

Surgisis (Cook Surgical, Bloomington, Ind., USA) is a new four-ply bioactive, prosthetic mesh for hernia repair derived from porcine small-intestinal submucosa. It is a naturally occurring extracellular matrix which is easily absorbed, supports early and abundant new vessel growth, and serves as a template for the constructive remodeling of many tissues. As such, we believe that Surgisis mesh is ideal for use in contaminated or potentially contaminated fields in which ventral, incisional, or inguinal hernia repairs are required. From November 2000 through May 2002, 25 patients (11 male, 14 female) underwent placement of Surgisis mesh for a variety of different hernia repairs. A total of 25 hernia repairs were performed in our patient population. Fourteen procedures (56%) were performed in a potentially contaminated setting (i.e. with incarcerated/strangulated bowel within the hernia or coincident with a laparoscopic cholecystectomy/colectomy). Eleven repairs (44%) were performed in a grossly contaminated field, including one in which an infected polypropylene mesh from a previous inguinal hernia repair was replaced with Surgisis and one in which necrotic bowel was discovered within the hernial sac. Median follow-up was 15 months with a range of 1–20 months. Of the 25 total repairs, there was one wound infection complicated by enterocutaneous fistula in a patient originally operated on for ischemic bowel. The fistula was in a location independent of the Surgisis mesh. There were no mesh-related complications or recurrent hernias in our early postoperative follow-up period. Surgisis mesh appears to be a promising new prosthetic material for hernia repair, especially in contaminated or potentially contaminated fields. Obviously, long-term follow-up is still required. Electronic Publication     

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair

Introduction: Effective surgical therapy for ventral and incisional hernias is problematic. Recurrence rates following primary repair range as high as 25–49%, and breakdown following conventional treatment of recurrent hernias can exceed 50%. As an alternative, laparoscopic techniques offer the potential benefits of decreased pain and a shorter hospital stay. This study evaluates the efficacy of the laparoscopic approach for ventral herniorrhaphy. Methods: A retrospective review was performed for 100 consecutive patients with ventral hernias who underwent laparoscopic repair at our institutions between November 1995 and May 1998. All patients who presented during this period and were candidates for a mesh hernia repair were treated via an endoscopic approach. Results: One hundred patients underwent a laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. There were 48 men and 52 women. The patients were typically obese, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 31 kg/m². Each had undergone an average of 2.5 (range; 0–8) previous laparotomies. Forty-nine repairs were performed for recurrent hernias. An average of two patients (range; 1–7) had previously failed open herniorhaphies; in 20 cases, intraabdominal polypropylene mesh was present. There were no conversions to open operation. The mean size of the defects was large at 87 cm² (range; 1–480). In all cases, the mesh (average, 287 cm²) was secured with transabdominal sutures and metal tacks or staples. Operative time and estimated blood loss averaged 88 min (range; 18–270) and 30 cc (range; 10–150). Length of stay averaged 1.6 days (range; 0–4). There were 12 minor and (two) major complications: cellulitis of the trocar site (two), seroma lasting >4 weeks (three), postoperative ileus (two), suture site pain > 2 weeks (two), urinary retention (one), respiratory distress (one), serosal bowel injury (one), and skin breakdown (one) and bowel injury (one). Both of the latter complications required mesh removal. With an average follow-up of 22.5 months (range; 7–37), there have been (three) recurrences. Conclusion: The laparoscopic approach to the repair of both primary and recurrent ventral henias offers a low conversion rate, a short hospital stay, and few complications. At 23 months of follow-up, the recurrence rate has been 3%. Laparoscopic repair should be considered a viable option for any ventral hernia. Received: 11 February 1999/Accepted: 15 March 2000/Online publication: 28 April 2000     

Characterizing laparoscopic incisional hernia repair

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic repair of ventral and incisional hernias (LVIHRs) is feasible; however, many facets of this procedure remain poorly defined. The indications, essential technical features and postoperative management should be standardized to optimize outcomes and facilitate training in this promising approach to incisional hernia repair. METHODS: All patients referred to one surgeon at a tertiary care centre for LVIHR from 1999 to 2004 were analyzed. Patient records were analyzed and perioperative outcomes were documented. RESULTS: Of the 69 patients who were referred for management of incisional hernia, 64 underwent LVIHR. The mean age of patients selected for surgery was 61.4 years (28% of patients over age 70 years); their mean body mass index (BMI) was 32.8 kg/m2 and mean American Association of Anaesthetists (ASA) score was 2.5 (52% of patients had an ASA score equal to 3). The mean operating time was 130.7 minutes for a mean abdominal wall defect of 123.9 cm2 and a mean prosthetic mesh size of 344 cm2. Patients with recurrent incisional hernias and previous prosthetic mesh were the most challenging, with a mean BMI of 39 kg/m2, mean operating time of 191 minutes, mean defect of 224 cm2 and mean prosthetic mesh size of 508 cm2. One patient was converted to open surgery and, in 2 patients, small bowel injuries were repaired laparoscopically without adverse sequelae. The mean length of stay was 4.5 days (median 3.0 d). Postoperatively, 78% of patients developed seromas within the residual hernia sac. All seromas were managed nonoperatively; one-half resolved by 7 weeks, and larger seromas persisted for up to 24 weeks. There was an 18.7% rate of minor complications and a 3.1% rate of major complications (no deaths). After a mean follow-up of 7.7 months, 2 recurrent hernias (3.1%) were identified in patients with multiple previous open mesh repairs. CONCLUSION: Although LVIHR may be challenging, it has the potential to be considered a primary approach for most ventral and incisional hernias, regardless of patient status or hernia complexity.     

Recurrences in laparoscopic incisional hernia repairs: a personal series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic repair of incisional ventral hernias with ePTFE mesh continues to evolve, with variable reporting of surgical techniques and outcomes. This report of 34 cases discusses, with a literature review of laparoscopic incisional hernia repair, specific factors associated with three recurrences. METHOD: Retrospective analysis and review of the literature. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (16 female, 16 male), underwent 34 laparoscopic repairs: average age-54 years (27-80), average weight-207 lbs (100-300). Nineteen patients (62%) were undergoing first time repairs, 38% were redo cases and 5 cases (14%) involved previous mesh. Operating times averaged 101 minutes (45-220), and average length of stay was 1.9 days (0.6 days excluding 5 patients who required readmission), with 13 patients (38%) being discharged same-day. Two patients developed cellulitis (6%) treated without patch removal. Two enterotomies occurred (6%) both requiring patch removal. Five patients required readmission (14%), and one patient died postoperative day 29 secondary to end-stage liver disease. Three recurrences developed (9%): one secondary to missed enterotomy with reoperation, patch removal and hernia recurrence; one due to omission of suspension suture fixation; and one recurrence developed in a section of the intact old previous incision that extended beyond the original patch. Follow up has averaged 20 months (4-36). CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic repair of ventral and incisional hernias utilizing transabdominal placement of ePTFE patch can achieve excellent results with low morbidity in comparison with open surgical approaches. In reviewing the experience of other investigators, adequate fixation of the mesh, extension to cover the entire previous incision and standardizing the placement interval of the sutures are critical to the success of the repair.     

Use of porcine dermal collagen graft (Permacol) for hernia repair in contaminated fields

Background Complicated hernias often involve contaminating surgical procedures in which the use of polypropylene meshes can be hazardous. Prostheses made of porcine dermal collagen (PDC) have recently been proposed as a means to offset the disadvantages of polypropylene meshes and have since been used in humans for hernia repairs. The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of incisional hernia repair using PDC as a mesh in complicated cases involving contamination. Methods A prospective study of hernia repair of complicated incisional hernias with contamination using PDC grafts was carried out at the Department of General, Emergency and Transplant Surgery of St Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital. Results From January 2004 up to the writing of this article, seven patients were treated for complicated incisional hernias with a PDC prosthesis. In six out of seven patients a bowel resection was carried out. There were not surgical complications. Morbidity was 14.2%. No recurrences and wound infections were observed. Conclusions Incisional hernioplasty using PDC grafts is a potentially safe and efficient approach in complicated cases with contamination.     

GS05SINGLE SURGEON EXPERIENCE WITH RETROMUSCULAR (PREPERITONEAL) MESH REPAIR OF INCISIONAL AND VENTRAL HERNIAS

Objective Repair of incisional (and large ventral) abdominal hernias pose a challenge for many surgeons. Numerous techniques have been described. This series reports a single surgeon’s experience using the retromuscular (pre‐peritoneal) mesh repair technique. Method Data was collected on 70 consecutive incisional (n = 23) and ventral (n = 47) hernia repairs using retromuscular (pre‐peritoneal) lightweight polypropylene mesh. Results The median follow‐up was 26 months (range 10 – 66 months). Overall recurrence rate was 1.4%. There were seven major (10%) and four minor (7%) post‐operative infections. One patient developed post‐operative seroma requiring percutaneous aspiration, and one patient had chronic pain. Conclusion Retromuscular mesh repair is a good alternative to traditional onlay mesh repairs. Morbidity and outcomes are acceptable and comparable with literature, with lower rates of seroma formation and hernia recurrence.     

Laparoscopic ventral and incisional hernia repair: An 11-year experience

Incisional hernias develop in 2%–20% of laparotomy incisions, necessitating approximately 90,000 ventral hernia repairs per year. Although a common general surgical problem, a "best" method for repair has yet to be identified, as evidenced by documented recurrence rates of 25%–52% with primary open repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic ventral and incisional herniorrhaphy. From February 1991 through November 2002, a total of 384 patients were treated by laparoscopic technique for primary and recurrent umbilical hernias, ventral incisional hernias, and spigelian hernias. The technique was essentially the same for each procedure and involved lysis of adhesions, reduction of hernia contents, closure of the defect, and 3–5 cm circumferential mesh coverage of all hernias. Of the 384 patients in our study group, there were 212 females and 172 males with a mean age of 58.3 years (range 27–100 years). Ninety-six percent of the hernia repairs were completed laparoscopically. Mean operating time was 68 min (range 14–405 min), and estimated average blood loss was 25 mL (range 10–200 mL). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.9 days and ranged from same-day discharge to 36 days. The overall postoperative complication rate was 10.1%. There have been 11 recurrences (2.9%) during a mean follow-up time of 47.1 months (range 1–141 months). Laparoscopic ventral and incisional hernia repair, based on the Rives-Stoppa technique, is a safe, feasible, and effective alternative to open techniques. More long-term follow-up is still required to further evaluate the true effectiveness of this operation.     

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.     

Transperitoneal preperitoneal laparoscopic lumbar incisional herniorrhaphy

PURPOSE: Flank incisions may be associated with flank hernias, which may be complicated by incarceration and strangulation. Furthermore, they may be the cause of significant patient dissatisfaction with the surgical outcome. To avoid an open surgical procedure with its associated morbidity for hernia repair we describe a novel laparoscopic technique for repairing flank hernias with minimal morbidity and an excellent outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three cases of flank hernia were managed by the transperitoneal preperitoneal laparoscopic approach using polypropylene mesh to repair the fascial defect. An initial transperitoneal approach helps to identify the limits of the hernia. A 2 to 3 cm. margin of overlying peritoneum is incised around the hernia margin. It is important not to dissect overlying bowel. The mesh is placed behind the peritoneal envelope and secured with hernia staples. RESULTS: All cases were managed successfully via laparoscopy. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. At a mean followup of 12 months cosmesis has been excellent and there have been no recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a minimally invasive, versatile technique for laparoscopic repair of flank incisional hernias with excellent functional and cosmetic results. This approach avoids the significant morbidity associated with open repair of incisional flank hernias.     

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.     

Is laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair with mesh a reasonable alternative to conventional repair?

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic mesh repair has been advocated as treatment of choice for ventral hernias. The term "ventral hernia" refers to a variety of abdominal wall defects and laparoscopic papers have not reported defect specific analysis. The purpose of this study was to determine any advantages to laparoscopic mesh repair of umbilical hernias. METHODS: A retrospective review (January 1998 to April 2001) was made of patients undergoing umbilical hernia repair. Patients were categorized into three groups: laparoscopic repair with mesh, open repair with mesh, and open repair without mesh. Comparative analysis was performed. RESULTS: One-hundred and sixteen umbilical hernia repairs were performed in 112 patients: 30 laparoscopic mesh repairs, 20 open mesh repairs, and 66 open nonmesh repairs. The laparoscopic technique was used for larger defects and took more time with a trend toward fewer postoperative complications and recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair with mesh presents a reasonable alternative to conventional methods of repair.