Laparoscopic repair of abdominal hernias using an ePTFE patch--a modification of a previously described technique.
BACKGROUND
A variety of laparoscopic procedures for the repair of abdominal wall hernias have been described. The repair described in this paper represents a modification and improvement of one approach.


METHODS
Our technique employs an Origin Tacker (Origin Medsystems, Inc, Menlo Park, CA) and a Gore suture passer (W. L. Gore, Flagstaff, AZ) to secure an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) patch, (DualMesh, W. L. Gore, Flagstaff, AZ) to the anterior abdominal wall.


RESULTS
This approach simplifies the repair by minimizing the number of steps required to secure the ePTFE graft to the anterior abdominal.


CONCLUSIONS
We have found this to be a safe and reliable technique that may be used in the laparoscopic repair of ventral, umbilical, or inguinal hernias.
Phillips
E
E
Department of Surgery, Sinai Hospital, Detroit, MI 48235, USA.
Dardano
A N
AN
Saxe
A
A
D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011379:Prognosis; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene