Progressive preoperative pneumoperitoneum for hernias with loss of domain

Acting as a pneumatic tissue expander, progressive preoperative pneumoperitoneum (PPP) pressurizes the abdomen to prepare patients with giant hernias and loss of domain for hernia repair. We review our experience with PPP. Between 2006 and 2008, a prospective hernia database revealed nine patients who underwent PPP prior to hernia repair. Mean patient age was 54 years (41-68) and mean BMI was 31.3 kg/m2 (25.2-36.5). Patients had prophylactic vena cava filters and intraperitoneal catheters placed. Over a mean 22.4 days (7-64), patients received 7.6 (3-13) injections of air. PPP complications included death from pulmonary mycetoma (1), deep venous thrombosis and acute renal failure (1), port infection (1), kinked catheter requiring reoperation (1). Seven patients underwent successful hernia repair; open ventral (6) and laparoscopic inguinal (1). Defect size averaged 387 cm2 (110-980) with a mesh size of 420 cm (180-1200). Operative time averaged 256 minutes (175-330) with a mean blood loss of 157 ml (50-500). Post-hernia repair length of stay was 10.3 days (4-22). Hernia repair complications included ventricular tachycardia (1) and hernia recurrence (1). PPP has an acceptable risk, and for patients with large hernias and loss of domain, it may be a useful adjunct prior to definitive hernia repair.