[Progressive pneumoperitoneum in the preparation for surgical intervention for voluminous ventral hernias]

The paper report three patients suffering from voluminous ventral hernias who were treated using progressive pneumoperitoneum as a preparative method prior to reparative surgery. On the basis of the results obtained, the authors sustain the rationality, safety and efficacy of the procedure, in particular given its ability to reestablish good respiratory and circulatory function in those cases where the latter were severely affected by hernia. Since this method needs a longer application time and therefore involves a greater economic burden, pneumoperitoneum should probably be reserved for selected cases, and alternative techniques should be used in patients where hernia is more easily resolved.