Giant ventral hernias and their repair

A method is described for the reconstruction of the abdominal wall in cases of large ventral hernia, by employing the frontal leaf of the rectus fascia and free fascia transplant, combined with muscle transposition. The results of 14 operations have been satisfactory in 11 cases, over an average observation period of 28 months. The method is recommended for very large ventral hernias, particularly in patients suffering from pulmonary symptoms, where reduction of the abdominal volume is undesirable.