Abdominal wall reconstruction: a case series of ventral hernia repair using the component separation technique with biologic mesh.
BACKGROUND
Sixty-eight consecutive patients from October 2008 until February 2012 were selected for this retrospective review.


METHODS
A midline fascial closure with component separation was completed using biologic mesh onlay in all cases. Recurrence rates of the hernias, complication rates, patient satisfaction, and time to return to work/normal activities were investigated.


RESULTS
The recurrence rate was 1.5% (n = 65) with ongoing follow-ups (mean = 20 months). The average age was 57 years, and the average body mass index was 36 kg/m(2) (range 22 to 60). The average hernia defect was 20 cm (range 12 to 26) transversely. Wound infection and/or breakdown occurred in 32%, and seroma formation occurred in 9% of patients. Patient satisfaction was 3.63 of 4. The average time to return to work/normal activities was 16 weeks (range 1 to 76 weeks).


CONCLUSIONS
Large complex ventral hernias can be reliably repaired using the component separation technique. The short-term recurrence rate is significantly reduced in this case series using a biologic mesh onlay.
Department of General Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1653 West Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Keith_Hood@rush.edu
Keith
K
Hood
Keith
K
Millikan
Troy
T
Pittman
Matthew
M
Zelhart
Brian
B
Secemsky
Meenakshi
M
Rajan
Jonathan
J
Myers
Minh
M
Luu
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D016896:Treatment Outcome