[Treatment of incisional hernias]

Several therapeutic processes were proposed in the repair of incisional hernia, on the basis of simple joining suture go to the installation of prosthetic mesh while passing by aponeurotic autoplasty according to Welti-Eudel technique. The aim of this study was to report the results of our experiment in the treatment of incisional hernias. It was a retrospective study carried out of January 11th 1996 to December 31, 2000, concerning 35 cases of incisional hernias operated during the study period. The following parameters were studied: age, sex, diameter, technique of repair, morbidty, mortality and the remote follow-up. Average age of our patients was 33 years with extremes of 13 and 53 years. It include 30 womens and 5 mens. The initial operation were dominated by Caesarean (57%). The diameter of incisional hernia varied between 3 and 5 cm in 22.9% of patients, between 5 and 10 cm in 62.8% of paitents, higher than 10 cm in 14.3% of patients. The simple joining suture was carried out in 22.9% of cases, the Welti-Eudel technique in 42.9% of cases and the installation of prosthetic mesh in 34.2% of the cases. Mortality was 5.1% and the morbidity was 34.2% made exclusively by suppuration including 5.1% on prosthetic material. We noted 14.3% of recurence which has occured after repair by simple joining. The Welti-Eudel procedure gives good results in the repair of incisional hernia with small and average dimensions. The installation of prosthetic mesh constitute the treatment of choice because the rate of recurence is weak even null.