Modifications to Rives technique for midline incisional hernia repair

Between 1990 and 1997, 284 patients were treated in our hospital for abdominal hernias. In the original group, 239 patients (84.15%) had midline hernia, and 45 (15.8%) had lateral hernia. A total of 152 midline hernia patients (63.5%) were treated using our variant of Rives technique. In all these cases, preperitoneal and retromuscular polypropylene mesh was used as a reinforcement and was subsequently attached by means of absorbable sutures to the external border of the rectus muscles. There were no deaths. A total of 42 of all patients operated on (27.6%) suffered from long-term postoperative pain. In seven cases (4.6%) it was necessary to remove the prosthesis because of chronic infection, and there were two recurrences in patients in whom the prosthesis had to be removed. In our experience, the Rives technique is a suitable and safe treatment for the repair of midline incisional hernias. The use of absorbable sutures and fixation of the mesh to the external oblique aponeurosis can reduce the original problems of abdominal pain and unaesthetic skin scars.