The role of laparoscopic IPOM in the treatment of abdominal hernias: lesson learned after 400 surgeries using single mesh.

Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Abdominal wall hernias and incisional hernias are a common benign disorder affecting quality of life, potentially leading to life-threatening complications. Laparoscopic IPOM (intraperitoneal onlay mesh) approach can offer good results in selected cases.<h4>Methods</h4>Patients who underwent laparoscopic incisional/ventral abdominal hernia repair operated with standardized technique and the same mesh, from January 2011 to December 2022, were retrospectively considered.<h4>Results</h4>Four hundred consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic abdominal wall repair. There were 255 ventral hernia (63%) and 145 (37%) primitive hernia (epigastric and umbilical). Mean size of the defect was 4.2 cm, W3 were 19 (4%). After a mean follow-up of 1906 days (range 45-4109), no mesh-related complications have been detected. There were 10 (2.5%) recurrences and 20 (5%) bulging.<h4>Conclusions</h4>In this study we emphasized the role of patient selection and standardized technique which represents "the lesson" learned over a period of 15 years of activity. In this setting, we believe that laparoscopic approach can achieve very good results in abdominal wall repair.