Background: The treatment of ventral hernias is still a subject of debate. The affixing of a prosthesis and the subsequent introduction of laparoscopic treatment have reduced complications and recurrences. The high incidence of seromas and high costs remain open problems.
Methods: At our Department between January 2008 and December 2011, 87 patients (43 over 65 years), out of a total of 132, with defects of wall whose major axis was less than 10 cm, or minor and multiple defects (Swiss-cheese defect) on an axis not exceeding 12 cm underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) with primary and transparietal closure of the hernial defect. Through small incisions in the skin we proceeded to close the parietal defect with sutures tied outside. Then the mesh was fixed as usual with double row of stitches and an overlap of 3-5 cm.
Results: In all patients, 43 of them elderly, surgery was successfully conducted. The juxtaposition of the edges of the hernial defect has not been time consuming and has not developed new complications. The postoperative course was uneventful, with discharge on the third day, except in 5 patients. Were observed only small gaps and not the formation of large seromas. There were no infections wall. We do not have relapses, but some small and asymptomatic solutions continuously up to 2 cm at the sonographic study. In elderly patients the absence of dead space and the feeling of greater stability of the wall, early mobilization and pain control have facilitated the post-operative course.
Conclusions: The positioning of sutures transcutaneous is simple and effective, the reduced incidence of seromas and the greater stability of the wall suggest to adopt this procedure fully.The possibility to close the margins of the defect may allow to change the size and setting of the mesh, since the absence of dead space allows to download physiologically tensions of the wall.