Umbilicus Necrosis During Mesh Repair of Rectus Diastasis for Abdominoplasty: Practical Tips for Prevention and Treatment

Abstract

Rectus muscles widened by pregnancy are handled in dramatically different ways in standard abdominoplasty and mesh abdominoplasty. Patients with significant abdominal wall laxity and/or umbilical hernia repair are treated with the use of retrorectus mesh placement. In these conditions the risk of damaging the blood supply to the umbilicus might be greater. Despite the fact that it is of no functional significance in adults, the umbilicus is a key esthetic landmark of the anterior abdominal wall. For both patients and surgeons alike, its absence, distortion, or misplacement after surgery can be distressing and can be a source of frequent patient complaint. Umbilical stalk necrosis represents an underreported yet important complication for patients following mesh abdominoplasty. We advance some recommendations for patients undergoing abdominoplasty with mesh repair of rectus diastasis and/or concomitant umbilical hernia mesh repair via the open approach. This information should help influence intraoperative decision-making to prevent the development of this undesirable complication.Level of Evidence V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Keywords: Abdominoplasty; Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography; Mesh repair; Rectus diastasis; Umbilicus.