[Complications of laparoscopic correction of abdominal wall and incisional hernias].

AIM: To give an overview of all negative outcomes of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study METHODS: Data from all consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic ventral or incisional hernia repair from January 2000 - May 2010 were summarized in a database. All operative and postoperative complications requiring invasive surgical or radiological intervention were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 803 patients underwent laparoscopy for hernia repair. Conversion to an open operation (n=24; 3%) was needed in 15 cases due to severe adhesions and in 9 due to enterotomy. Laparoscopic repair was completed in 779 patients (97%). Mean follow-up was 35.6 months (SD: 20.3). There were 17 recurrences (2.2%). Other adverse events were: enterotomies (n = 14; 1.8%: 9 recognized intraoperatively and 5 presented postoperatively); postoperative death due to myocardial infarction (n = 1); death due to mesenteric ischemia (n = 1); intra-abdominal bleeding (n = 3); postoperative ileus (n = 2); ileus long after laparoscopy (n = 2); chronic pain (n = 12; 1.6%); trocar-site hernia (n = 7); late mesh infection (n = 5); symptomatic mesh bulging (n = 4); chronic seroma (n = 1). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic correction is an effective method of treating hernias of the abdominal wall and recurrence is low. A total of 8.9% of patients had complications requiring re-intervention. Of these only a quarter were recurrences. On its own, the percentage of recurrences is therefore an inadequate indicator of the outcomes of this operation.