title: Abdominal wall reconstruction with components separation and mesh reinforcement in complex hernia repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal closure in the presence of enterocutaneous fistula, stoma or infection can be challenging. A single-surgeon's experience of performing components separation abdominal reconstruction and reinforcement with mesh in the difficult abdomen is presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records from patients undergoing components separation and reinforcement with hernia mesh at Royal Liverpool Hospital from 2009 to 2012 were reviewed. Patients were classified by the Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) grading system. Co-morbidities, previous surgeries, specific type of reconstruction technique, discharge date, complications and hernia recurrence were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three patients' (15 males, 8 females) notes were reviewed. Median age was 57 years (range 20-76 years). Median follow-up at the time of review was 17 months (range 2-48 months). There were 13 grade III hernias and 10 grade IV hernias identified. Synthetic mesh was placed to reinforce the abdomen in 6 patients, cross-linked porcine dermis was used in 3, and a Biodesign® Hernia Graft was placed in 14. Complications included wound infection (13%), superficial wound dehiscence (22%), seroma formation (22%) and stoma complications (9%). To date, hernias have recurred in 3 patients (13%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Components separation and reinforcement with biological mesh is a successful technique in the grade III and IV abdomen with acceptable rate of recurrence and complications.
authors.forename: Claire L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Nockolds
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hodde
authors.affiliation: Royal Liverpool Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L7 8XP, UK. Paul.Rooney@rlbuht.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rooney
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D016896:Treatment Outcome