Concomitant laparoscopic ventral hernia mesh repair and bariatric surgery: a retrospective study from a tertiary care center

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the safety in combing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with a mesh and bariatric surgery.

Background: Obesity is one of the important precipitating factors for primary and recurrent ventral hernias (incisional and umbilical) and it is not uncommon to find these hernias in patients opting for obesity surgery. But, with no consensus or recommendation and concern of mesh infection, surgeons fear in combining these procedures, especially Roux en Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.

Methods: In this study, we have retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent concomitant bariatric procedure and mesh repair for ventral hernia at our institute.

Results: A total of 36 out of 765 patients operated at our institute between 2003 and 2011 had concomitant procedures. Eleven patients had Roux en Y gastric bypass (group I) and remaining 25 had sleeve gastrectomy (group II) performed on them. The operating times were 149 min(120-210 min) in group I and 122 min (90-220min) in group II. No immediate complications or any incidence of mesh infection or recurrence in either of the groups.

Conclusion: Concomitant mesh repair for ventral hernias can be safely combined with bariatric procedures like Roux en Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. But, for beginners, these should be done only in selected cases after fully informed consent from the patients.