Abstract
Ventral abdominal wall hernias are a common problem for the general surgeon. Historically, the best results have been obtained with the open Rives-Stoppa approach. This is done by fixing a large piece of prosthetic mesh behind the rectus muscle. Extensive dissection is required and can lead to postoperative pain and wound complications. A laparoscopic approach allows similar mesh placement with minimal dissection. Several small comparative studies have found laparoscopic ventral hernia repair to have fewer complications, a shorter length of stay, and possibly a lower recurrence rate when compared to open mesh repair. Large prospective studies have now confirmed these findings, with recurrence rates below 4%. This is significantly lower than the best reported rates of open mesh repair. Additionally, the morbidity appears to be significantly less. This technique is easily mastered by anyone with basic laparoscopic skills and is briefly presented.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrahamson J (1994) Factors and mechanisms leading to recurrence. In: Bendavid R (ed) Prosthesis and abdominal wall hernias. Landes, Austin, 138–70
Carbajo MA, Martin del Olmo JC, Blanco JI, de la Cuesta C, Toledano M, Martin F, Vaquero C, Inglada L (1999) Laparoscopic treatment vs open surgery in the solution of major incisional and abdominal wall hernias with mesh. Surg Endosc 13: 250–252
Demaria EJ, Moss JM, Sugarman HJ (2000) Laparoscopic intraperitoneal polytetrafluoroethylene prosthetic patch repair of ventral hernia. Surg Endosc 14: 326–329
Franklin ME, Dorman JP, Glass JL, et al. (1998) Laparoscopic ventral and incisional hernia repair. Surg Laparosc Endosc 8: 294–299
George CD, Ellis H (1986) The results of incisional hernia repair in a 12-year review. Ann R Coll Surg 68: 185–187
Heniford BT, Park A, Ramshaw BJ, Voeller G (2000) Laparoscopic ventral and incisional hernia repair in 407 patients. J Am Coll Surg 190: 645–650
Hesslink VJ, Luijendijk RW, De Wilt JH, Heide R, Jeekel J (1999) An evaluation of risk factors in incisional hernia recurrence. Surg Gynecol Obstet 176: 228–234
Holzman MD, Purut CM, Reintgen K, Eubanks S, Pappas TN (1997) Laparoscopic ventral and incisional hernioplasty. Surg Endosc 11: 32–35
Larson GM (2000) Ventral hernia repair by the laparoscopic approach. Surg Clin N Am 80: 1329–1340
Leber GE, Garb JL, Alexander Al, Reed WP (1998) Long term complications associated with prosthetic repair of incisional hernias. Arch Surg 133: 378–382
LeBlank KA (2000) Current considerations in laparoscopic incisional and ventral herniorrhaphy. J Soc Laparoend Surg 4: 131–139
LeBlanc K, Booth WV (1993) Laparoscopic repair if incisional abdominal hernias using expanded polytetrafluorethylene: preliminary findings. Surg Laparosc Endosc 3: 39–41
Luijendijk RW, Hop WC, van den Tol MP, de Lange DC, Braaksma MM, Ijermans JN, Boelhouwer RU, de Vries BC, Salu MK, Weredsma JC, Bruijninckx CM, Jeekel J (2000) A comparison of suture repair with mesh repair for incisional hernia. N Engl J Med 343: 392–395
McLanahan D, King LT, Weems C, Nonotney M, Gibson K (1997) Retrorectus prosthetic mesh repair of midline abdominal hernia. Am J Surg 173: 445–449
Mudge M, Hughes LE (1985) Incisional hernia: a 10-year prospective study of incidence and attitudes. Br J Surg 72: 70–71
Park A, Birch DW, Lovrics P (1998) Laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair: a comparison study. Surgery 124: 816–822
Ramshaw BJ, Esartia P, Schwab J, Mason EM, Wilson RA, Duncan TD, Miller J, Lucas GW, Promes J (1999) Comparison of laparoscopic and open ventral herniorrhaphy. Am Surg 65: 827–832
Rives J (1989) Major incisional hernia. In: Cherval JP (ed) Surgery of the abdominal wall. Springer-Verlag, Paris, pp 116–144
Stoppa RE (1989) The treatment of complicated groin and incisional hernia repairs. World J Surg 13: 545–554
Stoppa R, Louis D, Verhaeghe P, Henry X, Plachot JP (1987) Current surgical treatment of postoperative eventrations. Int Surg 72: 42–44
Toy FK, Bailey RW, Carey S, Chappuis CW, Gagner M, Josephs LG, Mangiante EC, Park AE, Pomp A, Smoot RT, Uddo JF, Voeller GR (1998) Prospective multicenter study of laparoscopic ventral hernioplasty. Surg Endosc 12. 955–959
Usher FC (1970) A new plastic prosthesis for repairing tissue defects of the chest and abdominal wall. Am J Surg 97: 629–633
Voeller GR (2001) Repair of incisional hernias and midline defects. In: Bendavid R (ed) Abdominal wall hernias. Springer-Verlag, New York, pp 519–524
Wantz GE (1991) Incisional hernioplasty with mersilene. Surg Gynecol Obstet 172: 129–137
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Online publication: 27 February 2002
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thoman, D.S., Phillips, E.H. Current status of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Surg Endosc 16, 939–942 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-001-8202-y
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-001-8202-y