1. Opening statement

   • J. P. Chevrel

   EditorialNotes Pages: 181 - 181

2. Toronto Joint meeting: AHS-EHS, “Hernia in the 21^st Century” A meeting to remember

   • C. J. Filipi

   Congress Report Pages: 181 - 183

3. Ubiquitous use of prosthetic mesh in inguinal hernia repair: the dilemma

   • L. M. Nyhus

   Experts Point of View Pages: 184 - 186

4. Pregnancy and ventral hernia repair

   • J. Abrahamson
   • J. Gorman

   Short Reports Pages: 187 - 191

5. Hypothermia during herniorrhaphy using local anesthesia with sedation

   • S. D. Berliner
   • A. J. Petrini

   Short Reports Pages: 192 - 194

6. Umbilical hernia, Mayo or mesh?

   • D. M. G. Bowley
   • A. N. Kingsnorth

   Short Reports Pages: 195 - 196

7. The importance of measurement of respiratory mechanics during surgery of the abdominal wall

   • R. Brandolese
   • R. Grigoletto
   • G. Munegato

   Short Reports Pages: 197 - 201

8. Surgical treatment of incisional hernias with marked loss of substance

   • G. Campanelli
   • M. Bastazza
   • P. Pietri

   Short Reports Pages: 202 - 205

9. In vivo tissue reaction to different prosthetic materials in abdominal wall hernia repair

   • A. Coda
   • F. Botto-Micca
   • G. Ramellini

   Short Reports Pages: 206 - 211

10. Surgical physiology of esophagogastric junction. Selective testing is effective; some problems remain elusive

    • P. E. Donahue
    • P. K. Schlesinger
    • J. A. Madura

    Short Reports Pages: 212 - 218

11. Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair: why they fail

    • C. J. Filipi

    Short Reports Pages: 219 - 222

12. Totally extrafasdal endoscopie preperitoneal hernia repair: a merger of anatomy and surgery. The exact description to endoscopkally dissect the spermatic fascia

    • D. J. Fölscher
    • J. Leroy
    • J. Marescaux

    Short Reports Pages: 223 - 227

13. Utility of a new soft non-woven polypropylene mesh for the transabdominal extraperitoneal laparoscopic hernia repair: preliminary results

    • D. J. Fölscher
    • F. R. Jamali
    • J. Marescaux

    Short Reports Pages: 228 - 233

14. The lateral triangle of the groin

    • A. I. Gilbert
    • M. F. Graham
    • W. J. Voigt

    Short Reports Pages: 234 - 237

15. Early complications in tension-free hernioplasty: comparison between ambulatory and short-stay surgery

    • P. Hernàndez-Granados
    • A. Quintàns-Rodrfguez

    Short Reports Pages: 238 - 241

16. Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in abdominal wall surgery

    • M. Hidalgo
    • J. M. Figueroa

    Short Reports Pages: 242 - 247

17. Estimation of the inflammatory reaction by CRP-levels following prosthetic hernia repair

    • A. Hoeferlin
    • K. D. Hoehle

    Short Reports Pages: 248 - 249

18. Chronic pelvic pain in females and obscure hernias

    • M. S. Kavic

    Short Reports Pages: 250 - 254

19. Prospective double-blind randomized study comparing Perfix® plug-and-patch with Lichtenstein patch in inguinal hernia repair: one year quality of life results

    • A. N. Kingsnorth
    • M. E. Hyland
    • S. Sodergren

    Short Reports Pages: 255 - 258

20. On the extraperitoneal origin of hernia

    • M. Kux
    • H. Fritsch

    Short Reports Pages: 259 - 263

21. Comparison of Stoppa and Lichtenstein techniques in the repair of bilateral inguinal hernias

    • Z. Malazgirt
    • K. Ozkan
    • E. Kaya

    Short Reports Pages: 264 - 267

22. Some considerations on the use of heterologous prostheses in incisional hernias at risk of infection

    • V. Mandalà
    • G. Bilardo
    • A. Mirabella

    Short Reports Pages: 268 - 271

23. Intraparietal mesh repair for parastomal hernias

    • A. Martinez-Munive
    • O. Medina-Ramirez Llaca
    • R. Hesiquio-Silva

    Short Reports Pages: 272 - 274

24. Does anticoagulation increase the risk of wound hematoma in inguinal hernia surgery?

    • T. Mumme
    • Ch. Peiper
    • V. Schumpelick

    Short Reports Pages: 275 - 281

25. Respiratory mechanics in abdominal compartment syndrome and large incisional hernias of the abdominal wall

    • G. Munegato
    • R. Grigoletto
    • R. Brandolese

    Short Reports Pages: 282 - 285

26. The Swedish hernia register: an eight year experience

    • E. Nilsson
    • S. Haapaniemi

    Short Reports Pages: 286 - 289

27. Experience with the Trabucco tension-free sutureless inguinal hernioplasty

    • R. Rollino
    • R. Pagella
    • M. R. Maimone

    Short Reports Pages: 290 - 291

28. Long-term follow-up of totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic treatment of inguinal hernia at a single center

    • H. Sebbag
    • L. Brunaud
    • G. Grosdidier

    Short Reports Pages: 292 - 295

29. Preperitoneal mesh in groin hernia surgery. A randomized clinical trial emphasizing the surgical aspects of preperitoneal placement via a laparoscopic (TEP) or Grid-iron (Ugahary) approach

    • R. K. J. Simmermacher
    • E. B. van Duyn
    • T. J. M. V. van Vroonhoven

    Short Reports Pages: 296 - 298

30. Recurrent inguinal hernia after anterior open tension-free hernioplasty: the efficacy of preoperative herniography

    • F. Uchikoshi
    • R. Nezu
    • S. Souda

    Short Reports Pages: 299 - 301

31. One hundred years of abdominal wound dehiscence and nothing has changed

    • D. van Geldere

    Short Reports Pages: 302 - 304

32. Mesh plug versus Bassini operation: a randomized prospective study

    • P. Witkowski
    • M. I. Pirski
    • Z. Sledzinski

    Short Reports Pages: 305 - 310

33. A prospective evaluation of the PerFix® Plug technique for groin hernia repair

    • J. M. Zdoisek
    • J. Enebog
    • A. Kald

    Short Reports Pages: 311 - 315

34. Preperitoneal, minimally invasive, prosthetic groin hernia repair

    • G. C. Zotti
    • M. Mancuso
    • E. Scalise

    Short Reports Pages: 316 - 320

35. Announcements

    Announcement Pages: 321 - 321

36. Announcement

    Announcement Pages: A16 - A17