Post-laparoscopic mesh in post-menopausal umbilical hernia repair: a case series

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the use of a composite PTFE/polypropylene patch, Ventralex (Davol Inc., C.R. Bard, Inc., RI, USA), to repair, concurrent with laparoscopy, umbilical hernia in 51 postmenopausal women. After laparoscopy, patients were submitted to the hernia repair by a patch intraperitoneally placed behind the hernia. Primary outcomes included complication rates, while hernia recurrence was the secondary outcome. Patient age range was 58 ± 4.3 years, the size of patches was small in 17.6% of women, medium in 68.7% and large in 13.7%. Seventy-six percent of patients had an ASA I-II score, the mean operating time for hernia repair was 7 ± 2 minutes with 15 cc of related blood loss, with 1.8 days of hospital stay. The visual analogue scale was 0-3 for 62.7%, 4-6 for 27.5% and 7-10 for 9.8% of women. All laparoscopic and umbilical hernia repair terminated without any further intra or postoperative complications, with 36 months of follow-up; none of the patients showed recurrences. Combining laparoscopy and intraperitoneal mesh repair appears to be indicated for umbilical hernia treatment in post-menopausal patients undergoing laparoscopy, resulting in a safe and easy procedure, with short hospital stay and fast dismissal, with no major morbidity or recurrence.