[Preperitoneal Umbilical Hernia Mesh Plasty (PUMP): Indications, Technique and Results]

The principle of the preperitoneal umbilical mesh plasty (PUMP) technique is placement of the prosthesis in the extraperitoneal space, posterior to the rectus muscles, followed by ventral fascia closure. Difficulties can arise from preperitoneal dissection, mesh insertion, deployment, and positioning.

81 elective patients underwent preperitoneal repair of primary umbilical or epigastric hernias sized from 2 - 4 cm between January 2015 and March 2018 and were prospectively collected in the Herniamed database and retrospectively analysed. The same general technique was applied, but over time three different types of mesh devices were used. The experience from these cases and the gradual change between the implants during the observation period is described in this study.

No intraoperative complications were recorded. Postoperative complications occurred in 6 of 81 patients (7.4%) with the need for unplanned re-operation in 3 cases. Seventy-six of 81 patients (93.8%) attended the one year follow-up evaluation. Three of 76 patients (3.9%) suffered recurrence and five patients (6.6%) requires treatment for chronic pain.

Surgeons must work with the implant that best suits their patients' needs and that also provides good results and adequate working comfort. The PUMP technique performs well for ventral hernias sized between 2 and 4 cm without the need of midline reconstruction due to diastasis of the rectus muscles. It enables a local extraperitoneal mesh augmentation without the risk of intraperitoneal complications. PUMP repair lowers the risk of recurrence in comparison with suture repair without increasing the risk of complications.