[Video-parietoscopic surgery of the abdominal wall. A study of 15 cases]

The aim of videoparietoscopic surgery is to repair an abdominal wall weakness or defect without affecting the overlying skin, mainly for cosmetic reasons, and especially in young women.

A supra-pubic or umbilical approach was used, depending on the site of the lesion to be repaired. A 10 mm trocar with a sponge mandrin was placed in contact with the aponeurosis. After an initial dissociation of the cellular tissue, progressive insufflation with CO2 produced extensive detachment of the cutaneous plane upwards and laterally. Using one or two 5 mm trocars, the aponeurotic plane was progressively freed and the pathological zones were identified and repaired with standard endoparietal sutures or with percutaneous sutures using a Reverdin needle. Fifteen patients (14 females, one male) with a mean age of 30 years (19-36), were treated by parietoscopy for a diastasis of the rectus abdominis (five cases), an eventration (three cases) or an epigastric or linea alba hernia (seven cases).

A conversion to a classical technique was necessary in one man with a diastasis of the rectus abdominis, due to fibrous tissue which did not allow a subcutaneous plane of detachment to be obtained. Successful repair was possible in 14 cases. The mean operating time was 1 h 20 min; the mean duration of hospitalisation was 2 days (1-3). There was no mortality or morbidity. With a mean 18-month follow-up (range: 4-40), cosmetic and functional results were excellent.

Abdominal videoparietoscopy allows repair of minor parietal pathologies while preserving the overlying skin. It is indicated for cosmetic reasons in young women with normal skin overlying a localised abdominal wall defect or weakness.