title: Five-year experience with the "four-before" laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.
abstract: Between 1993 and 1998, we performed a linear study of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair performed in a standard fashion using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene on 49 patients. Eighteen patients had recurrent hernias and 30 patients were morbidly obese with a body mass index >30. Conversion to open procedure was required in two patients. Patients were observed a mean of 27 months. Three patients died of unrelated causes during the observation period. Three patients developed recurrent hernias. By a follow-up survey, we found that 90 per cent of patients were "satisfied" with their operation and results. Because of decreased complications, postoperative pain, hospital stay, and hernia recurrence, the "four-before" laparoscopic repair is our preference for ventral hernias. It has been particularly useful for obese patients and patients with recurrent ventral hernias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, 61603, USA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Reitter
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Debord
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Estes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene