Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair: 5-mm Port Technique and Alternative Mesh Insertion Method

Single Port Access (SPA) laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: initial report of 30 cases

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair has been demonstrated to be an acceptable and successful technique. Aside from similar, albeit fewer, complications compared to open hernia repair, the laparoscopic technique has the additional complication of port site hernia to its follow-up criteria. Our initial experience with reduced port surgery in hernias was described as a two-port one-stitch repair technique in 2002. We initially applied our Single Port Access (SPA) technique to ventral hernia repairs and reported it at the American Hernia Society meeting in 2008. Now we present the first 30 cases, some with 6-24-month follow-up.

METHODS

The charts of 30 patients undergoing surgery for primary and recurrent ventral hernias employing the SPA technique were reviewed. The SPA technique was applied through a 1.0-1.6-cm incision remote from and lateral to the hernia location in the abdominal wall. Polypropylene-based coated mesh and non-fascial fixation were used in all cases.

RESULTS

All procedures were completed via the SPA technique. Operative time, length of stay, and estimated blood loss were acceptable. The size of mesh placed ranged from 81 to 500 cm(2). Postoperative seromas were observed and all resolved spontaneously. There have been no wound infections or port site hernias during the 6-24-month follow-up period. There have been no recurrent hernias at the primary site.

CONCLUSION

We have successfully demonstrated the applicability of Single Port Access surgery for ventral hernia repair. In our initial series we performed this procedure on smaller hernias but have now begun applying it to larger repairs.

Laparoscopic versus open ventral hernia repair

Ventral hernia repair remains one of the most common operations performed by general surgeons. Despite the frequency with which this procedure is performed, there is little agreement and extensive controversy as to the cause of most of the hernias, or the ideal approach to repair these complicated problems. This article attempts to identify and provide some clarification of these controversial issues in abdominal wall reconstruction after ventral herniation based on the available literature.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: innovative anatomical closure, mesh insertion without 10-mm transmyofascial port, and atraumatic mesh fixation: a preliminary experience of a new technique

BACKGROUND

Generous overlap by a well-transfixed mesh is important in laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR). Mesh is usually introduced through a 10-mm trocar and fixed by tackers or transfixed by sutures. Ten-millimeter trocar sites are more prone to hernia development. Transfixation done using a suture passer inflicts some trauma and the site may become painful. This study reports a mesh insertion technique avoiding a 10-mm myofascial port, double-breasted fascial closure of the hernial defect, and transfixation in a relatively atraumatic manner.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted by enrolling the patients attending our surgery clinic. They were candidates for LVHR. Informed consent was obtained from each patient before the procedure. The study was approved by the Ethical Review Board of the Hospital and conducted as per good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines.

RESULTS

Between April 2004 and June 2006, 29 ventral hernia patients were enrolled without any exclusion. All patients had LVHR performed with this technique. Mean operative time and hospital stay were 65 min and <1 day, respectively. There were no perioperative complications, conversion, infection, trocar site or recurrent herniation or mortality. The majority of the patients were operated on as day-care surgery. Patients were followed up telephonically for the first 48 h and then by visiting us regularly. There was no postoperative visible bulge.

CONCLUSION

Mesh insertion by avoiding 10-mm trocar, double-breasted defect closure, and transfixation using atraumatic needles is a technically easy, safe, and patient-friendly procedure.

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

BACKGROUND

Absence of recurrence, seroma, and pain eludes the laparoscopic surgeon managing ventral and incisional hernias. Multifactorial etiology (i.e., obesity, comorbidity, and dyscollagenemia) is a challenge. Surgeons have risen to this challenge by providing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR). Stability of mesh in a standard LVHR is attributed to Pascal's Principle (PP). PP, based upon concentration of forces at the point of least resistance, has been classically applied in hydraulic jacks to move large masses. Application of PP in LVHR is thus misplaced where the hernial defect becomes a point of concentration of intra-abdominal forces. This makes the mesh inherently unstable. For a stable mesh aided by PP, benefits of defect closure needed to be explored.

METHODS

Between January 2000 and December 2004, 30 nonsmoker patients with incisional, primary ventral, and recurrent ventral hernias were operated on. Laparoscopic closure of the defect augmented with intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM), as done in standard LVHR, was preformed.

RESULTS

Thirty patients with 34 defects of a mean "closed defect" length of 5.7 cm (range, 3-10) were operated on. Mean operative time was 90 minutes (range, 75-110). There were no conversions, visceral injury, postoperative visible bulge, or seroma. No painkiller except Paracetamol was required. There was no recurrence in a mean follow-up of 58 months (range, 26-84). Restored abdominal contour was achieved by all the patients.

CONCLUSION

Closure of hernial defect augmented with IPOM is a safe, patient friendly, and scientific way of doing LVHR.