Laparoscopic repair of ventral hernia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of patients in terms of wound complications and follow-up, after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

STUDY DESIGN: A case series study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Surgery, Dubai Hospital, Dubai, from January 2007 to December 2011.

METHODOLOGY: All patients above 13 years of age, who underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, were included. A proceed dual mesh was used for repair of hernia. Multiple parameters were analyzed, including demographic features, presentations, co-morbid conditions, duration of hernia, and defect size. The duration of surgery, postoperative complications, and follow-up of these patients in terms of suture site pain and recurrence of hernia were also analyzed. The data was expressed as frequency, percentages and mean ± standard deviation of values.

RESULTS: There were 27 patients with mean age of 47 ± 10.3 years, including 20 female (74.07%) and 7 male (25.95%)patients. All patients presented with abdominal wall swelling. The hernia was partially reducible in 12 patients (44.44%), and completely reducible in 15 patients (55.55%). Seven patients (25.95%) had hypertension, 4 (14.81%) had ischaemic heart disease, and 4 (14.81%) had obesity as co-morbid conditions. All patients underwent laparoscopic hernia repair with proceed dual mesh. The mean defect size of the hernia was 6 cm, and mean duration of surgery was 94 minutes. Early postoperative complications included, seroma in 3 patients (11.11%), and haematoma in one patient (3.70%). The mean follow-up was 23 months. Four patients (14.81) had pain at suture site.

CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic repair is an appropriate approach for ventral hernia repair. It results in good repair and low wound complications in terms of haematoma and wound infection. There was no recurrence of hernia in this study.