title: A modified open intraperitoneal mesh (Garestin) technique for incisional ventral hernia repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Incisional hernias (IHs) are a major problem following abdominal surgery. In an effort to resolve large IHs adequately, we herein present our own modified "open intraperitoneal mesh" technique, termed the Garestin technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed early postoperative complications (EPCs; wound infection, hematoma, and seroma) and late postoperative complications (recurrence) in 124 patients operated for IHs and recurrent IHs (RIHs) using our new technique. Our technique involved repairing hernias by preserving the hernia sac, which was later used to conceal the mesh that replaced the abdominal wall defect, thus dividing the mesh from subcutaneous tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We operated 66 patients with IH and 58 patients with RIH. In the 4-week postoperative follow-up, 29 patients had EPC; 9 of them had wound infections that healed upon antibiotic therapy, without the need for any surgical procedure. Of the 10 patients with recurrent herniation in the long-term follow-up, 6 previously had EPC. Recurrences occurred 4-25 months after the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our method is reliable and safe for large ventral hernia disposal, but the final conclusion requires a larger number of patients and a longer follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Varazdin General Hospital, Varazdin, Croatia. Electronic address: alen@dvasadva.net.
authors.forename: Alen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pajtak
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Varazdin General Hospital, Varazdin, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ranko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stare
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Varazdin General Hospital, Varazdin, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Biskup
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Varazdin General Hospital, Varazdin, Croatia.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lukic
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Varazdin General Hospital, Varazdin, Croatia.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skorjanec
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Varazdin General Hospital, Varazdin, Croatia.
authors.forename: Krunoslav
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hrzenjak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D000069290:Incisional Hernia / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: PROCEED; hernia; hernioplasty; incisional; mesh; recurrent