[Adhesion after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair]

Four patients treated laparoscopically for ventral hernia (LVH) using W3 mesh (Cousin Biotech, France) and Protack (Tyco Healthcare, USA) were reoperated laparoscopically after 5, 6, 14 and 23 months for recurrent hernia (two cases) and a new hernia proximal to the primary mesh (two cases). In all patients we found adhesions toward the mesh and fixation devices that increased in severity and extent with time, rendering dissection difficult and dangerous. These findings cause concern and suggest that current validation methods for materials used in LVH should be re-evaluated.