title: A retrospective study on mesh repair alone vs. mesh repair plus pedicle flap for large incisional hernias.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our experience with the treatment of large incisional hernias (IH) was reviewed comparing mesh repair alone vs. mesh repair plus pedicle flaps.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed on patients treated between 2001 and 2005 that underwent component separation technique (CST) repair with polypropylene mesh alone or with polypropylene mesh and local "pedicle" dermal flaps. The primary outcome evaluated was the recurrence rate, secondary outcomes the complication rate, hospital stay and reoperation rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight patients were reviewed. Six patients (13%) developed an IH recurrence, two of them (4%) required secondary repair. CST combined with prosthetic mesh repair and pedicle flap was performed in 19 patients (39.6%) while CST combined with mesh repair alone in 29 patients (60.4%). The duration of surgery, hospitalization, postoperative complications as well as long-term results were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dermal pedicled flaps obtained through deepithelization of redundant skin following corrections of large incisional hernias are a safe, relatively easy and effective technique that allows reliable soft tissue coverage of the abdominal submuscular mesh.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Turin School of Medicine, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bogetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boriani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gravante
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milanese
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ferrando
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baglioni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013526:Surgical Mesh