THE OPEN RETRORECTUS AND TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINUS RELEASE.

The open retrorectus approach to the repair of incisional hernias remains the gold standard approach despite the availability of multiple options. The addition of a transverses abdominus release to the procedure increases the number of patients and the complexity of the cases for which this approach is suitable. It facilitates midline closure in almost all cases, avoids significant neuromuscular bundle injury and dissection of poorly vascularized subcutaneous tissue, and allows the placement of a very large but simple mesh in a space outside the peritoneal cavity. This video demonstrates the steps involved and the important anatomical details.