Management of non-midline incisional hernia by the laparoscopic approach: results of a long-term follow-up prospective study

The interplay of surgeon judgment and available evidence in the long-term outcome of ventral hernia repair

BACKGROUND

Since 2011, the New England VA Hernia Registry (NEVAHR) prospectively collected operative details of ventral hernia repairs (VHRs) from 5 VA medical centers. This study aims to determine factors associated with recurrence.

METHODS

Recurrence and surgical site occurrences (SSO) were directly identified via clinical and operative notes and/or imaging. Analysis was conducted via logistical regression.

RESULTS

There were 681 VHRs. Mesh was used in 589 (86.5 ​%) repairs and was associated with larger average defect sizes (p ​< ​0.001) and incisional hernias (p ​= ​0.007). There were 117 (19.9 ​%) recurrences among mesh repairs and 22 (23.9 ​%) among suture repairs (p ​= ​0.033). Among mesh repairs, recurrence was associated with higher BMI (p ​= ​0.009), smoking (p ​= ​0.012), parastomal and subcostal hernias (p ​= ​0.003; p ​= ​0.042), SSOs (p ​= ​0.009), laparoscopy (p ​= ​0.042), and smaller mesh-fascia overlap (p ​= ​0.039). No factors associated with recurrence among suture repairs.

CONCLUSION

Despite proper decision-making by NEVAHR surgeons, suture repair underperforms for hernias >2 ​cm. Utility of suture repair for defects <2 ​cm requires more investigation.

Robotic-assisted surgery for lateral ventral hernias - experience of robot-assisted methods for retromuscular and preperitoneal abdominal wall reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Due to the proximity to bony structures and the complex anatomy of the three-layered lateral abdominal wall, the surgical treatment of lateral ventral hernias is technically demanding. With this study we would like to demonstrate how lateral abdominal wall hernias can be treated using new robotic surgical techniques with extraperitoneal mesh placement.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that the application of the robot in minimally invasive treatment of lateral abdominal wall hernias is safe and efficient.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent robotically-assisted lateral ventral hernia repair surgery from June 2019 to December 2023 was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 50 ventral hernias were operated robotically due to a lateral hernia in the study period. 45 patients had an incisional hernia and 5 patients a primary spighelian hernia. 27 patients had only lateral findings, whereas 23 patients had combined hernias with lateral and medial hernial defects. 18 patients were treated with a preperitoneal mesh (r-vTAPP). 31 patients required TAR to achieve complete fascial closure and sufficient mesh overlap (24 extraperitoneal approach r-eTAR/7 transperitonel approach r-TAR). One patient had to be converted intraoperatively from a planned preperitoneal mesh to an intraperitoneal mesh repair (r-IPOM). The median hernia defect area was 71 cm² (3-375 cm²). The median mesh size was 600 cm² (150-1290 cm²). The median mesh defect ratio (MDR) was 10 (2,33-133,33). Five postoperative complications were encountered (10%). Two reoperations (4%) were required.

CONCLUSION

The utilization of new robotic surgical techniques provides a safe minimally invasive treatment option even for complex lateral ventral hernias that previously posed difficulties in surgical management. The early postoperative results show promising outcomes.

Delphi consensus statement for understanding and managing the subcostal hernia: subcostal hernias collaborative report (scholar study)

INTRODUCTION

Subcostal hernias are categorized as L1 based on the European Hernia Society (EHS) classification and frequently involve M1, M2, and L2 sites. These are common after hepatopancreatic and biliary surgeries. The literature on subcostal hernias mostly comprises of retrospective reviews of small heterogenous cohorts, unsurprisingly leading to no consensus or guidelines. Given the limited literature and lack of consensus or guidelines for dealing with these hernias, we planned for a Delphi consensus to aid in decision making to repair subcostal hernias.

METHODS

We adopted a modified Delphi technique to establish consensus regarding the definition, characteristics, and surgical aspects of managing subcostal hernias (SCH). It was a four-phase Delphi study reflecting the widely accepted model, consisting of: 1. Creating a query. 2. Building an expert panel. 3. Executing the Delphi rounds. 4. Analysing, presenting, and reporting the Delphi results. More than 70% of agreement was defined as a consensus statement.

RESULTS

The 22 experts who agreed to participate in this Delphi process for Subcostal Hernias (SCH) comprised 7 UK surgeons, 6 mainland European surgeons, 4 Indians, 3 from the USA, and 2 from Southeast Asia. This Delphi study on subcostal hernias achieved consensus on the following areas-use of mesh in elective cases; the retromuscular position with strong discouragement for onlay mesh; use of macroporous medium-weight polypropylene mesh; use of the subcostal incision over midline incision if there is no previous midline incision; TAR over ACST; defect closure where MAS is used; transverse suturing over vertical suturing for closure of circular defects; and use of peritoneal flap when necessary.

CONCLUSION

This Delphi consensus defines subcostal hernias and gives insight into the consensus for incision, dissection plane, mesh placement, mesh type, and mesh fixation for these hernias.

Primary Lumbar Hernia, Review and Proposals for a Standardized Treatment

A lumbar abdominal wall hernia is a protrusion of intraperitoneal or extraperitoneal contents through a weakness in the posterior abdominal wall, usually through the superior or inferior lumbar triangle. Due to its rare occurrence, adequate knowledge of anatomy and methods for optimal diagnosis and treatment might be lacking with many surgeons. We believe a clear understanding of anatomy, a narrative review of the literature and a pragmatic proposal for a step-by-step approach for treatment will be helpful for physicians and surgeons confronted with this condition. We describe the anatomy of this condition and discuss the scarce literature on this topic concerning optimal diagnosis and treatment. Thereafter, we propose a step-by-step approach for a surgical technique supported by intraoperative images to treat this condition safely and prevent potential pitfalls. We believe this approach offers a technically easy way to perform effective reinforcement of the lumbar abdominal wall, offering a low recurrence rate and preventing important complications. After meticulously reading this manuscript and carefully following the suggested approach, any surgeon that is reasonably proficient in minimally invasive abdominal wall surgery (though likely not in lumbar hernia surgery), should be able to treat this condition safely and effectively. This manuscript cannot replace adequate training by an expert surgeon. However, we believe this condition occurs so infrequently that there is likely to be a lack of real experts. This manuscript could help guide the surgeon in understanding anatomy and performing better and safer surgery.

The Modified Sublay Technique for the Management of Major Subcostal Incisional Hernia: Long-Term Follow-up Results of 37 Consecutive Patients

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study were to present the concept of original technique in the management of major incisional subcostal hernias and to evaluate short- and long-term outcome.

METHOD

Between January 2010 and January 2020, 280 patients underwent hernia repair surgery for incisional lateral abdominal hernia at Clinic for Digestive Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia. Among them, 37 patients underwent the modified sublay technique for major incisional subcostal hernia with minimal hernia defect surface of 100 cm2 or greater or minimal hernia defect width or height of 10 cm or greater. The operative techniques are as follows: retromuscular dissection of rectus muscle from posterior sheath on the both sides of hernia defect, external oblique muscle dissection from internal oblique muscle in a circle around hernia defect at the side of the hernia defect, complete reconstruction of the posterior myofascial layer, large heavyweight polypropylene mesh placement in a sublay position, and complete or partial reconstruction of anterior myofascial layer.

RESULTS

A median (range) hernia defect surface was 150 (100-500) cm2. A median operative time was 130 (90-330) minutes. The morbidity rate was 18.9%. A median (range) postoperative hospital stay was 7 (2-24) days. After the median follow-up of 50 (1-108) months, 2 patients (5.4%) developed recurrent hernia.

CONCLUSIONS

The modified sublay technique using large heavyweight polypropylene mesh provides good results in the management of major subcostal abdominal wall defects.

ROBOTIC TRANS-ABDOMINAL PREPERITONEAL APPROACH (TAPP) APPROACH FOR LATERAL INCISIONAL HERNIAS

Background:

Lateral incisional hernias arise between the linea alba and the posterior paraspinal muscles. Anatomical boundaries contain various topographic variations, such as multiple nearby bony structures and paucity of aponeurotic tissue that make it particularly challenging to repair.

Aim:

To describe a robotic assisted surgical technique for incisional lumbar hernia repair.

Methods:

Retrospective data was collected from four patients who underwent robotic-assisted repair of their lumbar hernias after open nephrectomies.

Results:

Age ranged from 41-53 y. Two patients had right sided flank hernias while the other two on the left. One patient had a recurrent hernia on the left side. The patients were placed in lateral decubitus position contralateral to the hernia defect side. A trans-abdominal preperitoneal approach was used in all cases. Each case was accomplished with two 8 mm robotic ports, a 12 mm periumbilical port, and a 5 mm assistance port that allowed docking on the ipsilateral hernia side. The hernias were identified, a preperitoneal plane was created, and the hernia sac completely dissected allowing for complete visualization of the defect. All defects were primarily closed. Polypropylene or ProGrip^TM mesh was applied with at least 5 cm overlap and secured using either #0 Vicryl^® transfacial sutures, Evicel^® or a combination of both. The peritoneal space was closed with running suture and the ports were removed and closed. The average surgical length was 4 hr. The post-operative length of stay ranged from 0-2 days.

Conclusion:

The robotics platform may provide unique advantages in the repair of lateral incisional hernias and represents a safe, feasible and effective minimally invasive approach for the correction of lateral incisional hernias.

Stepwise transversus abdominis muscle release for the treatment of complex bilateral subcostal incisional hernias

BACKGROUND

Management of subcostal incisional hernias is particularly complicated due to their proximity to the costochondral limits in addition to the lack of aponeurosis on the lateral side of the abdomen. We present our results of posterior component separation through the same previous incision as a safe and reproducible technique for these complex cases.

METHODS

We presented a multicenter and prospective cohort of patients diagnosed with bilateral subcostal incisional hernias on either clinical examination or imaging based on computed tomography from 2014 to 2020. The aim of this investigation was to assess the outcomes of abdominal wall reconstruction for subcostal incisional hernias through a new approach. The outcomes reported were short- and long-term complications, including recurrence, pain, and bulging. Quality of life was assessed with the European Registry for Abdominal Wall Hernias Quality of Life score.

RESULTS

A total of 46 patients were identified. All patients underwent posterior component separation. Surgical site occurrences occurred in 10 patients (22%), with only 7 patients (15%) requiring procedural intervention. During a mean follow-up of 18 months (range, 6-62 months), 1 (2%) case of clinical recurrence was registered. Also, there were 8 (17%) patients with asymptomatic but visible bulging. The European Registry for Abdominal Wall Hernias Quality of Life score showed a statistically significant decrease in the 3 domains (pain, restriction, and cosmetic) of the postoperative scores compared with the preoperative score.

CONCLUSION

Posterior component separation technique for the repair of subcostal incisional hernias through the same incision is a safe procedure that avoids injury to the linea alba. It is associated with acceptable morbidity, low recurrence rate, and improvement in patients' reported outcomes.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in patients with obesity: should we be scared of body mass index?

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a risk factor for ventral hernia development and affects up to 60% of patients undergoing ventral hernia repair. It is also associated with a higher rate of surgical site occurrences and an increased risk of recurrence after ventral hernia repair, but data is lacking on the differences between obesity classes.

METHODS

Between 2008 and 2018, 322 patients with obesity underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in our department: class I n = 231 (72%), II n = 55 (17%), III n = 36 (11%). We compared short and long-term outcomes between the three classes.

RESULTS

Patients with class III obesity had a longer median length of hospital stay compared to I and II (5 days versus 4 days in the other groups, p = 0.0006), but without differences in postoperative complications or surgical site occurrences. After a median follow up of 49 months, there were no significant differences in the incidence of seroma, recurrence, chronic pain, pseudorecurrence and port-site hernia. At multivariate analysis, risk factors for recurrence were presence of a lateral defect and previous hernia repair; risk factors for seroma were immunosuppression, defect > 15 cm and more than one previous hernia repair; the only risk factor for postoperative complications was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

CONCLUSION

Class III obesity is associated with longer length of hospital stay after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, but without differences in postoperative complications and long-term outcomes compared with class I and class II obesity.

Postmortem evaluation of neuromuscular damages more extensive than the surgical intervention area after iliac crest bone graft

Several complications may occur following iliac bone grafting, one of the common sites for autologous bone harvesting. Of these, it is difficult to localize the damage in neurological complications due to the presence of several nerves in a similar distribution area with variations among individuals. To minimize these complications, conventional clinical anatomical studies using normal human cadavers have estimated the theoretical neurological damage area corresponding to the surgical intervention area. We report a case of neuromuscular damage in a 93-year-old woman who had an iliac crest defect after a bone graft, based on the virtual and physical dissections with histological confirmations.In this study, the patient was confirmed to have severe neuromuscular complications with major complications including a hernia protruding through the iliac defect. One of the two ilioinguinal nerves was extracted with the hernia sac through the iliac defect, and its distal part was completely damaged. The iliohypogastric nerve, which was far from the defect foramen, also showed remarkable fibrosis and demyelination, affected by the degeneration of the transversus abdominis muscles.The present anatomical findings show that the area of eventual neuromuscular damage should be estimated to larger than the conventionally predicted area of direct nerve damage, which is usually concomitant with the surgical intervention area.

Chinese expert consensus on adult ventral abdominal wall defect repair and reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Surgical management of patients with ventral abdominal wall defects, especially complex abdominal wall defects, remains a challenging problem for abdominal wall reconstructive surgeons. Effective surgical treatment requires appropriate preoperative assessment, surgical planning, and correct operative procedure in order to improve postoperative clinical outcomes and minimize complications. Although substantial advances have been made in surgical techniques and prosthetic technologies, there is still insufficient high-level evidence favoring a specific technique. Broad variability in existing practice patterns, including clinical pre-operative evaluation, surgical techniques and surgical procedure selection, are still common.

DATA SOURCES

With the purpose of providing a best practice algorithm, a comprehensive search was conducted in Medline and PubMed. Sixty-four surgeons considered as experts on abdominal wall defect repair and reconstruction in China were solicited to develop a Chinese consensus and give recommendations to help surgeons standardize their techniques and improve clinical results.

CONCLUSIONS

This consensus serves as a starting point to provide recommendations for adult ventral abdominal wall repair and reconstruction in China and may help build opportunities for international cooperation to refine AWR practice.

Minimally invasive Venetian blinds ventral hernia repair with botulinum toxin chemical component separation

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic ventral repair is safe, with lower wound infection rates compared with open repair. 'Venetian blinds' technique of plication in combination with mesh reinforcement, is totally intra-corporeal, with hernia defect and sac plication to reduce seroma formation. While laparoscopic suturing of the abdominal wall can represent a technical challenge, pre-operative botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections as an adjunct can assist. This study aims to demonstrate feasibility and efficacy of this technique in abdominal wall hernia repair, with BTA adjunct in midline hernias.

METHODS

A single-centre case series was conducted using minimally invasive 'Venetian blinds' technique for repair of complex ventral abdominal hernias. Twelve patients (seven midline, five non-midline) underwent repair (11 laparoscopic; one robotic). Midline hernias received BTA (200-300 units Botox) 4-6 weeks prior to surgery. Repairs were mesh-reinforced following fascial closure.

RESULTS

Twelve (10 female, two male) patients, with a median age 72 years (range 31-83) and body mass index of 27.3 kg/m² (range 22.8-61.7) were included. The median length of operation was 133 min (range 45-290) and length of hospital stay 3 days (range 1-28). To date there has been no recurrence of hernia. A single symptomatic seroma was treated with antibiotics and did not require mesh removal. One patient developed hospital-acquired pneumonia and pseudomembranous colitis.

CONCLUSION

Minimally invasive 'Venetian blinds' technique has promising early results with both midline and non-midline ventral hernias. The addition of BTA is a novel and feasible combination for repair of midline ventral hernias.

Pitfalls and clinical recommendations for the primary lumbar hernia based on a systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

The lumbar abdominal wall hernia is a rare hernia in which abdominal contents protrude through a defect in the dorsal abdominal wall, which can be of iatrogenic, congenital, or traumatic origin. Two anatomical locations are known: the superior and the inferior lumbar triangle. The aim of this systematic review is to provide a clear overview of the existing literature and make practical clinical recommendations for proper diagnosis and treatment of the primary lumbar hernia.

METHODS

The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search in PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE was performed, and all studies reporting on primary lumbar hernias were included. No exclusion based on study design was performed. Data regarding incarceration, recurrence, complications, and surgical management were extracted.

RESULTS

Out of 670 eligible articles, 14 were included and additional single case reports were analysed separately. The average quality of the included articles was 4.7 on the MINORS index (0-16). Risk factors are related to increased intra-abdominal pressure. CT scanning should be performed during pre-operative workup. Available evidence favours laparoscopic mesh reinforcement, saving open repair for larger defects. Incarceration was observed in 30.8% of the cases and 2.0% had a recurrence after surgical repair. Hematomas and seromas are common complications, but surgical site infections are relatively rare.

CONCLUSION

The high risks of incarceration in lumbar hernias demand a relatively fast elective repair. The use of a mesh is recommended, but the surgical approach should be tailored to individual patient characteristics and risk factors.

Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair in South Auckland, New Zealand-A Retrospective Review

BACKGROUND

Ethnic disparities in surgical care and outcomes have been previously reported in studies for other surgical procedures. In addition, it has been reported that ethnic differences in postoperative analgesia exist. We aimed to determine ethnic disparities in postoperative outcomes, total opioid analgesia use, and complication rates of all patients who underwent a laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) at our institution over a 3-y period.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent an LVHR at Counties Manukau Health from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2015, was performed in line with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology statement.

RESULTS

A total of 267 ventral hernias were repaired in 254 patients at Counties Manukau Health over the study period, of which most were primary umbilical ventral hernias. The majority of patients in our cohort were New Zealand European and male. Major complications, as per the Clavien-Dindo classification grade 3 and above, were observed in six patients with no deaths (2.4%). There were no statistically significant ethnic disparities in length of stay, receipt of opioid analgesia, and rates of complication observed after linear regression modeling after adjustment for confounding factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that the majority of patients who had a ventral hernia repaired at our institution were mostly New Zealand European and male. Although significant ethnic disparities in patient characteristics were observed, these were not associated with ethnic disparities in postoperative outcomes after an LVHR.

Laparoscopic and percutaneous repair of a large midline incisional hernia extending to the bilateral subcostal region: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Optimal surgery for a midline incisional hernia extending to the subcostal region remains unclear. We report successful hybrid laparoscopic and percutaneous repair for such a complex incisional hernia.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

An 85-year-old woman developed a symptomatic incisional hernia after open cholecystectomy. Computed tomography revealed a 14 × 10 cm fascial defect. Four trocars were placed under general anesthesia. Percutaneous defect closure was performed using multiple non-absorbable monofilament threads, i.e., a "square stitch." Each thread was inserted into the abdominal cavity from the right side of the defect and pulled out to the left side. The right side of the thread was subcutaneously introduced anterior to the hernia sac. The threads were sequentially tied in a cranial to caudal direction. A multifilament polyester mesh with resorbable collagen barrier was selected and fixed using absorbable tacks with additional full-thickness sutures. The cranial-most limit of mesh fixation was at the level of the subcostal margin, and the remaining part was draped over the liver surface. The postoperative course was uneventful, with no seroma, mesh bulge, or hernia recurrence at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up.

DISCUSSION

The advantages of our technique are the minimal effect on the scar in the midline during defect closure, the minimal damage to the ribs and obtaining more overlap during mesh fixation. The disadvantage is the postoperative pain.

CONCLUSION

Our proposed hybrid surgical approach may be considered as the treatment of choice for a large midline incisional hernia extending to the bilateral costal region.

Laparoscopic management of non-midline incisional hernia: A multicentric study

BACKGROUND

The laparoscopic repair of non-midline ventral hernia (LNM) has been debated. The aim of this study is to analyze our experience performing the laparoscopic approach to non-midline ventral hernias (NMVHs) in Northwest Italy for 6 years.

METHODS

A total of 78 patients who underwent LNM between March 2008 and March 2014 in the selected institutions were analyzed. We retrospectively analyzed the peri- and postoperative data and the recurrence rate of four subgroups of NMVHs: subcostal, suprapubic, lumbar, and epigastric. We also conducted a literature review.

RESULTS

No difference was found between the four subgroups in terms of demographic data, defect characteristics, admission data, and complications. Subcostal defects required a shorter operating time. Obesity was found to be a risk factor for recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, subcostal defects were easier to perform, with a lower recurrence rate, lesser chronic pain, and faster surgical performance. A more specific prospective randomized trial with a larger sample is awaited. Based on our experience, however, the laparoscopic approach is a safe treatment for NMVHs in specialized centers.

Laparoscopic ventral/incisional hernia repair: updated Consensus Development Conference based guidelines [corrected]

BACKGROUND

The Executive board of the Italian Society for Endoscopic Surgery (SICE) promoted an update of the first evidence-based Italian Consensus Conference Guidelines 2010 because a large amount of literature has been published in the last 4 years about the topics examined and new relevant issues.

METHODS

The scientific committee selected the topics to be addressed: indications to surgical treatment including special conditions (obesity, cirrhosis, diastasis recti abdominis, acute presentation); safety and outcome of intraperitoneal meshes (synthetic and biologic); fixing devices (absorbable/non-absorbable); abdominal border and parastomal hernia; intraoperative and perioperative complications; and recurrent ventral/incisional hernia. All the recommendations are the result of a careful and complete literature review examined with autonomous judgment by the entire panel. The process was supervised by experts in methodology and epidemiology from the most qualified Italian institution. Two external reviewers were designed by the EAES and EHS to guarantee the most objective, transparent, and reliable work. The Oxford hierarchy (OCEBM Levels of Evidence Working Group*. "The Oxford 2011 Levels of Evidence") was used by the panel to grade clinical outcomes according to levels of evidence. The recommendations were based on the grading system suggested by the GRADE working group.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The availability of recent level 1 evidence (a meta-analysis of 10 RCTs) allowed to recommend that not only laparoscopic repair is an acceptable alternative to the open repair, but also it is advantageous in terms of shorter hospital stay and wound infection rate. This conclusion appears to be extremely relevant in a clinical setting. Indications about specific conditions could also be issued: laparoscopy is recommended for the treatment of recurrent ventral hernias and obese patients, while it is a potential option for compensated cirrhotic and childbearing-age female patients. Many relevant and controversial topics were thoroughly examined by this consensus conference for the first time. Among them are the issue of safety of the intraperitoneal mesh placement, traditionally considered a major drawback of the laparoscopic technique, the role for the biologic meshes, and various aspects of the laparoscopic approach for particular locations of the defect such as the abdominal border or parastomal hernias.

A systematic review of the surgical treatment of large incisional hernia

PURPOSE

Incisional hernia (IH) is one of the most frequent postoperative complications. Of all patients undergoing IH repair, a vast amount have a hernia which can be defined as a large incisional hernia (LIH). The aim of this study is to identify the preferred technique for LIH repair.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed and studies describing patients with IH with a diameter of 10 cm or a surface of 100 cm2 or more were included. Recurrence hazards per year were calculated for all techniques using a generalized linear model.

RESULTS

Fifty-five articles were included, containing 3,945 LIH repairs. Mesh reinforced techniques displayed better recurrence rates and hazards than techniques without mesh reinforcement. Of all the mesh techniques, sublay repair, sandwich technique with sublay mesh and aponeuroplasty with intraperitoneal mesh displayed the best results (recurrence rates of <3.6%, recurrence hazard <0.5% per year). Wound complications were frequent and most often seen after complex LIH repair.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of mesh during LIH repair displayed the best recurrence rates and hazards. If possible mesh in sublay position should be used in cases of LIH repair.

Repair of giant subcostal hernia using porcine acellular dermal matrix (Strattice™) with bone anchors and pedicled omental flap coverage: a case report

Introduction

Giant abdominal wall hernias represent a major challenge to the hernia surgeon in practice today. Of the common abdominal wall hernias, those located in the subcostal region are among the most difficult to repair, and have historically been plagued by higher recurrence rates than other locations, such as the midline. No technique has been identified as the clearly superior choice for hernias of this type.

Case presentation

We report a successful repair of a giant, multiply recurrent subcostal hernia with loss of domain in a 45-year-old obese Caucasian man. This was accomplished in a novel fashion, using a porcine acellular dermal matrix (Strattice™) as the floor of the repair, which was fixed to the costal margin using orthopedic bone anchors (Mitek™), then covered with a pedicled omental flap to eliminate dead space and facilitate a more rapid revascularization of the porcine acellular dermal matrix implant.

Conclusions

This case emphasizes the need for a thorough understanding of the challenges of the specific type of hernia defect encountered, as well as knowledge of any available techniques that may be adjunctively employed to enhance the chances of achieving a successful result.