Laparoscopic ePTFE mesh repair of incisional and ventral hernias

Incisional hernia is a relatively frequent complication of abdominal surgery. The use of mesh to repair incisional and ventral hernias results in lower recurrence rates compared with primary suture techniques. The laparoscopic approach may be associated with lower postoperative morbidity compared with open procedures. Long-term recurrence rates after laparoscopic ventral and incisional hernias are not well defined. A prospective study of the initial experience of a standardized technique of laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repair carried out in a tertiary referral hospital was undertaken between January 2003 and February 2007. Laparoscopic hernia repair was attempted in 71 patients and was successful in 68 (conversion rate 4%). The mean age of the patients identified was 63.1 years (39 men and 31 women). Multiple hernial defects were identified in 38 patients (56%), and the mean overall size of the fascial defects was 166 cm(2). The mean mesh size used was 403 cm(2). The mean operative time was 121 minutes. There were six (9%) major complications in this series, but there were no deaths. Hernia recurrence was noted in four patients (6%) at a mean follow up of 20 months. Our preliminary experience indicates that laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repair is technically feasible and has acceptable postoperative morbidity and low early recurrence rates.     

腹腔镜下腹壁切口疝补片修补术的初步经验

目的:探讨腹腔镜下腹壁切口疝修补术的手术方法、安全性等问题。方法:对我院2004年3月～11月间收治的25例腹壁切口疝病人,进行腹腔镜下修补术。结果:24例(96%)手术成功,1例(4%)因腹腔内广泛粘连而中转为剖腹修补。平均手术时间为110min,平均术后住院6d,6例(24%)病人术中发现有一个以上的隐匿性缺损。术后并发症有:术后短期内修补区腹壁明显疼痛21例(84%),腹壁缝合点较长时间疼痛6例(24%),浆液肿3例(12%);无修补区感染,也未发现早期复发的病例。结论:对腹壁切口疝,多数病人是可以经腹腔镜进行粘连松解及补片修补术的,还可在术中发现其他隐性缺损。对腹腔内广泛粘连而影响操作器械的进入及分离者,应及时中转剖腹手术。     

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.     

腹腔镜技术在切口疝修补术中的应用体会

目的探讨腹腔镜下应用补片修补切口疝的手术方法和II缶床效果。方法回顾性分析我科2006年1月至2008年12月对腹壁切口疝23例施行腹腔镜修补术的临床资料。结果本组成功施行腹腔镜下切口疝补片修补22例,因腹腔内严重粘连中转剖腹手术1例,术中发现多发切口疝3例。本组无手术死亡和肠瘘病例。术后出现疼痛4例,补片周围积液3例。全组获随访4～24个月,平均13．8个月,未见切口疝复发。结论腹壁切口疝病人行腹腔镜下补片修补大多是安全地,还可在术中发现隐性缺损。对腹腔内广泛粘连分离困难者,应及时中转剖腹手术。     

Repair of giant incisional abdominal wall hernias using open intraperitoneal mesh

Background Very large and complex incisional hernias, especially those involving loss of abdominal wall, present a particular challenge to the surgeon. Aims The open intraperitoneal technique was used prospectively for the repair of incisional hernias in a selected group of patients with large defects, often those with major loss of abdominal wall, overweight patients, and previous failures of incisional repair. Materials and methods Between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2005, out of 275 patients operated on for incisional hernia repair, 61 of them, most of whom were obese with multiorificial recurrent or giant hernias and contraindicated for laparoscopy, were treated using an open intraperitoneal mesh technique. There were 50 females and 11 males, with a mean age of 61. The median ASA score of the group was 2.3, with a mean BMI of 34 kg/m² and a mean hernia surface of 182 cm². Sixty-four percent of the patients had undergone one or more previous incisional hernia repairs. Results Mean operating time was 130 min, with an average hospital stay of 13 days. None of the patients died. Postoperative complications occurred in 21% of the patients; most of which were minor, but two cases (3.3%) developed deep abscesses requiring surgery and removal of the mesh. A recurrence rate of 5% was found after a mean follow-up of 35 months (8–88). Conclusion Open intraperitoneal mesh repair appears to be a good option for the treatment of complex incisional hernia (at least 10 cm in diameter or multiorificial) in obese patients contraindicated for laparoscopy.     

Telerobotic laparoscopic repair of incisional ventral hernias using intraperitoneal prosthetic mesh.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair shortens the length of hospital stay and achieves low rates of hernia recurrence. The inherent difficulties of performing advanced laparoscopy operations, however, have limited the adoption of this technique by many surgeons. We hypothesized that the virtual operative field and hand-like instruments of a telerobotic surgical system could overcome these limitations. We present herein the first 2 reported cases of telerobotic laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with mesh. The operations were accomplished with the da Vinci telerobotic surgical system. The hernia defects were repaired with dual-sided, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) mesh. The mesh was secured in place with 8 sutures that were passed through the abdominal wall, and 5-mm surgical tacks were placed around the circumference of the mesh. The 2 operations were accomplished with total operative times of 120 and 135 minutes and total operating room times of 166 and 180 minutes, respectively. The patients were discharged home on postoperative days 1 and 4. The surgeon sat in an ergonomically comfortable position at a computer console that was remote from the patient. Immersion of the surgeon within the 3-dimensional virtual operative field expedited each stage of these procedures. The articulation of the wristed telerobotic instruments greatly facilitated reaching the anterior abdominal cavity near the abdominal wall. This report indicates that telerobotic laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is feasible and suggests that telepresence technology facilitates this procedure.     

Retrofascial mesh repair of ventral incisional hernias

BACKGROUND: Recurrence rates after ventral incisional hernia repair are reported to be as high as 33% and are associated with considerable morbidity and lost time. The purpose of this study was to determine if retrofascial mesh placement reduces the incidence of recurrence as well as the severity of wound infections. METHODS: A prospective database covering the period from January 1995 to June 2003 was maintained. All patients underwent a standardized technique by a single surgeon. Polypropylene mesh was placed between the fascia and the peritoneum with the fascia closed over the mesh. RESULTS: There were 150 patients (126 women, 24 men) with a mean age of 55 years. Their average weight was 88 kg, with an average body mass index of 32. Sixty-three (42%) of the hernias were recurrences of a previous repair. The average size of the hernia was 8 x 14 cm. There was 1 postoperative mortality. There was a 9% postoperative infection rate with 2 patients (1%) requiring mesh removal. Long-term follow-up evaluation has revealed 3 recurrences (2%) and 3 readmissions for bowel obstruction with 1 patient requiring surgical release. There were no fistulas noted. CONCLUSIONS: Incisional hernia repair with mesh placed in the retrofascial position decreases both the risk for recurrence and the severity of wound infection without significant problems from bowel obstruction or enteric fistula.     

Laparoscopic repair of suprapubic incisional hernias: suturing and intraperitoneal composite mesh onlay. A retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Suprapubic hernias are those defects located 4 cm from the pubic symphysis. Our aim is to highlight the laparoscopic repair of suprapubic incisional hernias. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 17 patients with suprapubic incisional hernias from 1999 to 2007. A modified technique of laparoscopic intraperitoneal composite mesh onlay was performed for these patients. RESULTS: There were 12 females and 5 males with a mean age of 55.9 years and a mean BMI of 30 kg/m(2). The mean hernia size was 87.5 cm(2), with an average mesh size of 234 cm(2). Mean follow-up was 9 months. Complications were seen in five patients, with an overall recurrence rate of 5.8%. DISCUSSION: Suprapubic hernias are difficult to manage because of the complexity of dissection and their anatomic proximity to bony, vascular and nerve structures. The lower end of the mesh should be fixed to the Cooper's ligament and the pubic bone. Laparoscopic repair of these uncommon hernias is safe, effective and provides all the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.     

Laparoscopic repair of abdominal ventral hernias

This paper presents the surgical technique for ventral abdominal hernia repair, including median incisional hernia, umbilical hernia and epigastric hernia. The main stages of the surgical procedure are as follows: pinpointing the parietal defect, insufflation of pneumoperitoneum and placing the trocars, inspection and adhesiolysis of the peritoneal cavity, closure of the defect with extracorporeal transparietal U reverse stitches, preparing the mesh, introducing the mesh in the peritoneal cavity and fixing it with transfascial sutures and tackers. Postop care measures, postop complications and controversies regarding mesh composition and fixation method are also discussed.     

Laparoscopic repair of ventral incisional hernias: pros and cons

Abdominal wall hernias are a familiar surgical problem. Millions of patients are affected each year, presenting most commonly with primary ventral, incisional, and inguinal hernias. Whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, hernias commonly cause pain or are aesthetically distressing to patients. These concerns, coupled with the risk of incarceration, are the most common reasons patients seek surgical repair of hernias. This article focuses on incisional hernias, reported to develop in 3% to 29% of laparotomy incisions.     

Surgical repair of incisional ventral hernias: tension-free technique using prosthetic materials (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene Gore-Tex Dual Mesh)

Repairing an incisional ventral hernia is a major challenge for a surgeon. The high recurrence rates observed during hernia repair by tissue approximation led to development of tension-free procedures by using prosthetic materials. The purpose of this study is to report the results of a tension-free repair technique using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene Gore-Tex Dual Mesh (Gore-Tex Soft Tissue Patch, W.L. Gore and Associates Inc, Flagstaff, AZ) in patients with primary or recurrent incisional ventral hernias. Over 3 years, 52 patients with incisional hernias have undergone this procedure in our clinic. Fourteen of them had recurrent hernias which had been primarily repaired by Mayo hernioplasty. Six of our patients had irreducible hernias preoperatively. Twenty-five patients had hernias on midline incisions, and the rest of them had hernias on transverse abdominal incisions. The median patient age was 65 years, and all were operated on under general anesthesia. The majority of the patients had 4 to 6 days of hospitalization. A subcutaneous seroma developed in eight patients. They all were treated by multiple paracentesis. Four of our patients experienced wound infection and were treated by mesh removal. None of the patients presented with cardiovascular or pulmonary complications. During the follow-up period, no other hernia recurrence, except the cases with mesh removal, has been noticed. The tension-free incisional hernia repair using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh is, to our experience, a safe and easy procedure with no major morbidity or recurrence.     

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.     

腹腔镜腹壁切口疝补片修补术的应用体会

目的：探讨腹腔镜腹壁切口疝补片修补术的临床应用价值及安全性。方法：2005年8月至2006年10月我院为8例腹壁切口疝患者使用自膨胀式聚丙烯-膨化聚四氟乙烯双面复合型补片行腹腔镜腹壁切口疝修补术,其中2例联合行胆囊切除术。结果：8例手术均获成功,手术时间55～150min,平均85min,无手术死亡病例及并发症发生,患者术后8～24h后下床活动,1—2d排气,术后疼痛轻,2—3d后完全缓解,3—7d（平均4d）患者顺利康复出院。随访12～24个月无复发。结论：腹腔镜腹壁切口疝修补术安全可靠,具有创伤小、术后康复快、并发症少、不增加手术穿刺孔、可完成联合手术等优点,临床应用前景广阔。     

Laparoscopic treatment vs open surgery in the solution of major incisional and abdominal wall hernias with mesh

Background: Despite being one of the most exact indications, laparoscopic treatment of eventrations and ventral hernias is barely known among the array of laparoscopic techniques. Methods: A total of 60 patients were assigned at random over a 3-year period to two homogeneous groups to be operated on for major ventral hernias with mesh. Half of them were operated upon laparoscopically and the rest with open surgery. Early and longer-term complications were analyzed, as were operative time and postoperative hospital stays. Results: The two groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics. The group that was operated on laparoscopically presented a lower rate of postoperative and longer-term complications; similarly, surgery time was significantly lower (p < 0.05). Hospitalization time was also significantly lower than in the group undergoing conventional open surgery (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Laparoscopic treatment of postoperative eventration and primary ventral hernia reduces complications and relapse rates, eliminates reintervention through mesh infection, reduces operative time, and considerably shortens the hospital stay. Received: 22 December 1997/Accepted: 18 August 1998     

Long-term results of laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias using an intraperitoneal composite mesh

Background  

This study was designed to evaluate the long-term complications and recurrences of laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias. Very few studies evaluate objectively the long-term results of laparoscopic incisional hernia repair.