Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Transabdominal Pre-Peritoneal Vs Open Tension-Free Hernia Repair in Treating Inguinal Hernia

Objective:To investigate and analyze the clinical outcomes of inguinal hernia patients treated with transabdominal pre-peritoneal repair(TAPP)versus open tension-free hernia repair.Methods:The study was carried out from January 2021 to August 2023,and a total of 50 inguinal hernia patients were selected for this study.The patients were randomly divided into a study group(n=25)and a control group(n=25)by the numerical table method.The patients in the control group were treated with open tension-free hernia repair,whereas the patients in the study group were treated with TAPP.The surgical and postoperative recovery indexes,complication rates,and recurrence rates of the two groups were compared.Results:There was no significant difference in the operative time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups(P>0.05),and the postoperative feeding time,time out of bed,and hospitalization time of the study group were shorter than those of the control group(P<0.05);the incidence rate of postoperative complications in the study group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05);and there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate of the two groups after operation(P>0.05).Conclusion:Compared to open tension-free hernia repair,TAPP offers a shorter postoperative recovery duration and hospitalization time,and reduces the incidence of complications.Therefore,this surgical method should be popularized in the treatment of inguinal hernia.

Inguinodynia following Lichtenstein tension-free hernia repair:A review

Chronic Groin Pain (Inguinodynia) following inguinal hernia repair is a significant,though under-reported problem. Mild pain lasting for a few days is common following mesh inguinal hernia repair. However,moderate to severe pain persisting more than 3 mo after inguinal herniorrhaphy should be considered as pathological. The major reasons for chronic groin pain have been identified as neuropathic cause due to inguinal nerve(s) damage or non-neuropathic cause due to mesh or other related factors. The symptom complex of chronic groin pain varies from a dull ache to sharp shooting pain along the distribution of inguinal nerves. Thorough history and meticulous clinical examination should be performed to identify the exact cause of chronic groin pain,as there is no single test to confirm the aetiology behind the pain or to point out the exact nerve involved. Various studies have been performed to look at the difference in chronic groin pain rates with the use of mesh vs non-mesh repair,use of heavyweight vs lightweight mesh and mesh fixation with sutures vs glue. Though there is no convincing evidence favouring one over the other,lightweight meshes are generally preferred because of their lesser foreign body reaction and better tolerance by the patients. Identification of all three nerves has been shown to be an important factor in reducing chronic groin pain,though there are no well conducted randomised studies to recommend the benefits of nerve excision vs preservation. Both nonsurgical and surgical options have been tried for chronic groin pain,with their consequent risks of analgesic sideeffects,recurrent pain,recurrent hernia and significant sensory loss. By far the best treatment for chronic groin pain is to avoid bestowing this on the patient by careful intra-operative handling of inguinal structures and better patient counselling pre-and post-herniorraphy.

Analysis of the Effect and Efficiency of Tension- Free Hernia Repair and Traditional Surgery in The Treatment of Hernia

Objective: To analyze the efficiency of tension-free hernia repair and traditional surgery in the treatment of hernia. Methods: A total of 80 patients with hernias were selected and randomly into a control group (traditional hernia repair) and an observation group (tension-free hernia repair), of 40 cases each. The perioperative indicators, pain, physiological stress indicators, complications, and recurrence rates between the two groups were compared. Results: The perioperative indexes of the observation group were better than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The postoperative pain score, postoperative physiological stress index level, incidence of complications, and recurrence rate of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In the surgical treatment of hernia, tension-free hernia repair was less traumatic and had a better effect than traditional hernia repair.

Single-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair in the treatment of adult female patients with inguinal hernia

BACKGROUND Women have a 3%lifetime chance of developing an inguinal hernia,which is not as common in men.Due to its cosmetic benefits,single-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal(SIL-TAPP)inguinal hernia repair is becoming in-creasingly popular in the management of inguinal hernia in women.However,there are no studies comparing the safety and applicability of SIL-TAPP repair with conventional laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal(CL-TAPP)inguinal hernia repair for the treatment of inguinal hernia in women.AIM To compare the outcomes of SIL-TAPP and CL-TAPP repair in adult female patients with inguinal hernia and to estimate the safety and applicability of SIL-TAPP repair in adult female inguinal hernia patients.METHODS We retrospectively compared the clinical information and follow-up data of fe-male inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP inguinal hernia repair and those who underwent CL-TAPP inguinal hernia repair at the Affiliated Hos-pital of Nantong University from February 2018 to December 2020 and assessed the long-term and short-term outcomes of both cohorts.RESULTS This study included 123 patients,with 71 undergoing SIL-TAPP repair and 52 un-dergoing CL-TAPP repair.The two cohorts of patients and inguinal hernia charac-teristics were similar,with no statistically meaningful difference.The rate of intraoperative inferior epigastric vessel injury was lower in patients in the SIL-TAPP cohort(0,0%)than in patients in the CL-TAPP cohort(4,7.7%)and was significantly different(P<0.05).In addition,the median[interquartile range(IQR)]total hospitalization costs were significantly lower in patients in the SIL-TAPP cohort[$3287(3218-3325)]than in patients in the CL-TAPP cohort[$3511(3491-3599)].Postoperatively,the occurrence rate of trocar site hernia was lower in the SIL-TAPP cohort(0,0%)than in the CL-TAPP cohort(4,7.7%),and the median(IQR)cosmetic score was significantly higher in the SIL-TAPP cohort[10(10-10)]than in the CL-TAPP cohort[9(9-10)].CONCLUSION SIL-TAPP repair did not increase the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications in female in-guinal hernia patients.Moreover,female inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP repair had a lower probability of trocar site hernia and inferior epigastric vessel injury than female inguinal hernia patients who un-derwent CL-TAPP repair.In addition,female inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP repair reported a more aesthetically pleasing postoperative abdominal incision.Therefore,SIL-TAPP repair is a better option for the treatment of inguinal hernias in women.

Combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic repair of adult right-sided Bochdalek hernia with massive liver prolapse: A case report

BACKGROUND A Bochdalek hernia(BH)is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia that often develops in the neonatal period.BH typically occurs on the left side of the diaphragm.A right-sided BH in an adult is rare.CASE SUMMARY A 45-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow seen on chest radiography during a medical check-up.A chest radiograph showed elevation of the right hemidiaphragm.Computed tomography showed prolapse of multiple intraabdominal organs into the right thoracic cavity,corresponding to a right-sided BH.The herniated contents included the stomach,transverse colon,and left lobe of the liver.The left lobe of the liver was enlarged,particularly the medial segment.Laparoscopic surgery was performed.However,the left lobe of the liver was completely trapped in the thoracic cavity.Therefore,thoracoscopic manipulation had to be performed to return the liver to the abdominal cavity.The hernia was repaired with interrupted nonabsorbable sutures and reinforced with mesh.CONCLUSION Combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery was successfully performed for right-sided BH with massive liver prolapse and abnormal liver morphology.

The Effect of Tension-Free Herniorrhaphy in the Preperitoneal Space on the Treatment of Hernia

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of tension-free herniorrhaphy in the preperitoneal space in patients with hernia.Methods:The study period was from January 2020 to December 2022.198 samples of hernia patients admitted to our hospital were selected and divided into a research group(n=99)and a control group(n=99).Patients in the control group underwent tension-free herniorrhaphy with plain films,and patients in the study group underwent tension-free herniorrhaphy in the preperitoneal space.The surgical and postoperative recovery-related indicators,incidence of complications,and recurrence rate were compared between the two groups.Results:The intraoperative and postoperative recovery indexes of the study group were better than those of the control group(P<0.05);the incidence of complications in the study group was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Tension-free herniorrhaphy in the preperitoneal space shortens the operation and postoperative recovery time of hernia patients and reduces the incidence of postoperative complications,so it should be popularized.

Hernia Repair during Cesarean Section—Compliance Matters: Tension-Free Tissue Repair

Purpose: Simultaneous surgeries are increasingly applied in all surgical fields. They bring cost and health advantages to the patient and the economy. Pregnancy is one of the risk factors of hernia in females. We conducted a study for simultaneous tissue repairs of inguinal and umbilical hernias during cesarean section. Methods: Between January 1997 and August 2013 we have operated 42 patients with 45 hernias either umbilical or inguinal. We performed the repairs from the Pfannenstiel incision. Data about maternal age, parity, cause of cesarean section, length of operation, length of stay, complications and patient satisfaction were collected. Results: Within this period there were 19,904 deliveries in total. Incidence of umbilical hernia was found 0.2% and it was 0.1% for the inguinal hernia. Simultaneous hernia repairs significantly prolonged the operative time. There was no recurrence and complication. Conclusions: Our results showed that hernia repair can be performed without any additional risks during cesarean section. We believe that if there is an indication for cesarean section in a pregnancy complicated by an abdominal wall hernia, patients should be informed that it would be safe and effective to repair these hernias during cesarean section. This approach also enables tension-free pure tissue repairs.

Analysis of Ultrasound-guided Ilioinguinal and Iliohypogastric Nerve Block in Tension-Free Inguinal Hernia Repair in Elderly Patients

Objective:To explore the value of ultrasound-guided ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block(IINB)in tension-free inguinal hernia repair in elderly patients.Methods:A total of 70 elderly patients with tension-free inguinal hernia repair who treated in the hospital from April 2018 to November 2019 were selected and divided into two groups according to the random number table method,with 35 cases each.The control group underwent infiltration of local anesthesia(LA),and the study group added with IINB.The visual analogue scale(VAS)scores of the two groups of patients were compared.Results:The VAS score of the study group when pulling the hernia sac was lower than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:IINB has good analgesic effect in tensionfree inguinal hernia repair in elderly patients,and it is worth promoting.

Repair of a giant inguinoscrotal hernia with herniation of the ileum and sigmoid colon:A case report

BACKGROUND Giant inguinoscrotal hernias are huge inguinal hernias that extend below the midpoint of the inner thigh in the standing posture.Giant inguinoscrotal hernias are rare in developed countries because of their better medical resources and early treatment.However,they can develop in patients who refuse surgery or ignore their condition.Intervention is inevitable because strangulation and organ perforation can occur,leading to peritonitis and sepsis.Common surgical approaches include open abdominal and inguinal approaches or a combination of both.CASE SUMMARY We present the case of a 73-year-old man who visited our emergency department with a huge mass in his left scrotum and septic complications.Abdominal computed tomography revealed a large left inguinoscrotal hernia that contained small bowel loops and the colon.Emergency surgical intervention was performed immediately because intestinal strangulation was highly suspected.The operative repair was performed using a combination of mini-exploratory laparotomy and the inguinal approach.The incarcerated organs,which included the ileum and sigmoid colon,had relatively good intestinal perfusion without perforation or ischemic changes.They were successfully reduced into the abdomen,and bowel resection was not necessary.A tension-free prosthetic mesh was used for the hernia repair.Two weeks after the initial surgery,and with adequate antimicrobial therapy,the patient recovered and was discharged from our hospital.No evidence of hernia relapse was noted during the outpatient follow-up examination 3 mo after surgery.CONCLUSION Emergency surgery involving combined mini-exploratory laparotomy and the inguinal approach should be performed for serious incarcerated giant inguinoscrotal hernias.

Laparoscopic Surgery of Incisional Hernia: Technique and Short-Term Results in Three Surgical Units in Cameroon

Introduction: Incisional hernia is a common medical situation and its treatment has always been a challenge for general surgeons. If laparoscopic repair has become a gold standard elsewhere, it is increasingly done in our milieu, but no data has been found. The aim of this study was to review this surgery done in our country so far, to describe the operative technique and to evaluate the postoperative outcomes. Patients and Methods: We conducted an observational descriptive study with retrospective collection of data from the 1st of July 2018 to 30th of June 2022, in three hospitals in Cameroon. Data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, surgical technique and postoperative outcomes of patients who had a laparoscopic repair of their incisional hernia were collected. Results: We reviewed 20 files. There were 14 women with an average age of 54.6 years. The average BMI was 32.8 kg/m2. Thirteen patients had a moderate size hernia and the hernia was localized at the midline in 18 cases. Only composite biface meshes were used with dimensions chosen to obtain at least 5 cm overlap. Spiral tacks were the only fixation means used. We registered 3 complications. One case of generalized peritonitis secondary to missed digestive perforation, one case of seroma and one case of postoperative ileus. We registered no death. Conclusion: Laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias is feasible in a resource-limited setting like ours. Compliance with the operative technique and recommendations is important to obtain short-term results closed to that put forward by literature.

Current state of laparoscopic parastomal hernia repair:A meta-analysis

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the laparoscopic approaches for parastomal hernia repair reported in the literature.METHODS:A systematic review of PubMed and MEDLINE databases was conducted using various combination of the following keywords:stoma repair,laparoscopic,parastomal,and hernia.Case reports,studies with less than 5 patients,and articles not written in English were excluded.Eligible studies were further scrutinized with the 2011 levels of evidence from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine.Two authors reviewed and analyzed each study.If there was any discrepancy between scores,the study in question was referred to another author.A meta-analysis was performed using both random and fixed-effect models.Publication bias was evaluated using Begg's funnel plot and Egger's regression test.The primary outcome analyzed was recurrence of parastomal hernia.Secondary outcomes were mesh infection,surgical site infection,obstruction requiring reoperation,death,and other complications.Studies were grouped by operative technique where indicated.Except for recurrence,most postoperative morbidities were reported for the overall cohort and not by approach so they were analyzed across approach.RESULTS:Fifteen articles with a total of 469 patients were deemed eligible for review.Most postoperative morbidities were reported for the overall cohort,and not by approach.The overall postoperative morbidity rate was 1.8%(95%CI:0.8-3.2),and there was no difference between techniques.The most common postoperative complication was surgical site infection,which was seen in 3.8%(95%CI:2.3-5.7).Infected mesh was observed in 1.7%(95%CI:0.7-3.1),and obstruction requiring reoperation also occurred in 1.7%(95%CI:0.7-3.0).Other complications such as ileus,pneumonia,or urinary tract infection were noted in16.6%(95%CI:11.9-22.1).Eighty-one recurrences were reported overall for a recurrence rate of 17.4%(95%CI:9.5-26.9).The recurrence rate was 10.2%(95%CI:3.9-19.0) for the modified laparoscopic Sugarbaker approach,whereas the recurrence rate was27.9%(95%CI:12.3-46.9) for the keyhole approach.There were no intraoperative mortalities reported and six mortalities during the postoperative course.CONCLUSION:Laparoscopic intraperitoneal mesh repair is safe and effective for treating parastomal hernia.A modified Sugarbaker approach appears to provide the best outcomes.

Current trends in laparoscopic groin hernia repair: A review

Hernia is a common problem of the modern world with its incidence more in developing countries. Inguinal hernia is the most common groin hernia repaired worldwide. With advancement in technology operative techniques of repair have also evolved. A Pub Med and COCHRANE database search was accomplished in this regard to establish the current status of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in view of recent published literature. Published literature support that laparoscopic hernia repair is best suited for recurrent and bilateral inguinal hernia although it may be offered for primary inguinal hernia if expertise is available.

Laparoscopic repair via the transabdominal preperitoneal procedure for bilateral lumbar hernia: Three cases report and review of literature

A lumbar hernia is a rare entity, and a bilateral lumbar hernia is much rarer. From May 2015 to October 2017, we treated only three patients with bilateral lumbar hernias. One patient came to the hospital presenting with right-sided abdominal pain, and the other two patients presented with bilateral lumbar masses. The previous bilateral lumbar hernia reported in the literature was repaired by open surgery. The laparoscopic approach via the transabdominal preperitoneal(TAPP) procedure with the self-gripping Parietex ProG rip? mesh was performed at our center. The laparoscopic repair was conducted by a skilled hernia surgeon, and was successfully performed in the three patients. The patients resumed a semiliquid diet and had no activity restriction after six hours following the operation. No antibiotics were used after the surgery. The operative times of the three patients were 120 min, 85 min, and 130 min. The blood loss volumes of the three patients were 20 mL, 5 mL, and 5 mL. The visual analogue scale pain scores of the three patients were 1, 2, and 2 on postoperative day 1, and were 1, 2, and 1 on postoperative day 3. No perioperative complications, such as bulge, wound infection and hematoma, occurred after the surgery. All of the patients were discharged on the third day after the operation. There was no chronic pain and no hernia recurrence during the follow-up. This study showed that the laparoscopic TAPP approach with the self-gripping mesh is safe and feasible, and can be considered an alternative method for the treatment of bilateral lumbar hernias.

Utility of single-incision totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair with intraperitoneal inspection

AIM To study the utility of single-incision totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair with intraperitoneal inspection.METHODS A 2 cm transverse skin incision was made in the umbilicus, extending to the intraperitoneal cavity. Carbon dioxide was insufflated followed by insertion of laparoscope to observe the intraperitoneal cavity. The type of hernia was diagnosed and whether there was the presence of intestinal incarceration was confirmed. When an intestinal incarceration in the hernia sac was found, the forceps were inserted through the incision site and the intestine was returned to the intraperitoneal cavity without increasing the number of trocars. Once the peritoneum was closed, totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair was performed, and finally, intraperitoneal observation was performed to reconfirm the repair.RESULTS Of the 75 hernias treated, 58 were on one side, 17 were on both sides, and 10 were recurrences. The respective median operation times for these 3 groups of patients were 100 min(range, 66 to 168), 136 min(range, 114 to 165), and 125 min(range, 108 to 156), with median bleeding amounts of 5 g(range, 1 to 26), 3 g(range, 1 to 52), and 5 g(range, 1 to 26), respectively. Intraperitoneal observation showed hernia on the opposite side in 2 cases, intestinal incarceration in 3 cases, omental adhesion into the hernia sac in 2 cases, severe postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions in 2 cases, and bladder protrusion in 1 case. There was only 1 case of recurrence.CONCLUSION Single-incision totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair with intraperitoneal inspection makes hernia repairs safer and reducing postoperative complications. The technique also has excellent cosmetic outcomes.

Analysis of the Causes of Chronic Pain after Inguinal Hernia Repair without Tension and Its Prevention and Treatment

Purpose: Analyzing the causes of pain after tension-free repair in the inguinal hernia, and propose corresponding treatment strategies. Results: The patients in this group were followed up for 3 - 12 months. A total of 5 patients still had pain relief within 3 months after surgery. Further treatment was needed, and the incidence rate was 5%. Conclusion: Skilled surgical procedures are performed in patients with local anesthesia, and some of the absorbable repair materials can be used. The improved patch fixation and extra peritoneal repair can reduce the pain after inguinal hernia repair without tension.

Mesh migration into the sigmoid colon after inguinal hernia repair presenting as a colonic polyp:A case report and review of literature

Mesh migration and penetration into abdominal visce-ra rarely occur after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. We present the first case of mesh migration into the sigmoid colon identified as a colonic polyp at initial co-lonoscopic examination. The patient complained of mild abdominal distention in the lower abdomen over the previous year without changes in bowel habits or stool appearance and without weight loss. By complement-ary endoscopic ultrasonography, a cavity--like structure beneath the suspected polyp was further confirmed. Enhanced abdominal computed tomography merely re-vealed local bowel wall thickening and inflammation of the colosigmoid junction. The migrating mesh, which was lodged in the sigmoid colon and caused intra--abdomi-nal adhesion in the lower abdominal cavity, was finally identified via exploratory surgery. The components of inflammatory granulation tissue around the mesh mate-rial were diagnosed based on histological examination of the surgical specimen after sigmoidectomy. In this patient, nonspecific endoscopic and imaging outcomes during clinical work--up led to the diagnostic dilemma of mesh migration. Therefore, the clinical, radiological and endoscopic challenges specific to this case as well as the underlying reasons for mesh migration are discussed in detail.

Laparoscopic repair of hiatal hernia with mesenterioaxial volvulus of the stomach

Although mesenterioaxial gastric volvulus is an uncommon entity characterized by rotation at the transverse axis of the stomach, laparoscopic repair procedures have still been controversial. We reported a case of mesenterioaxial intrathoracic gastric volvulus, which was successfully treated with laparoscopic repair of the diaphragmatic hiatal defect using a polytetrafluoroethylene mesh associated with Toupet fundoplication. A 70-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital because of sudden onset of upper abdominal pain. An upper gastrointestinal series revealed an incarcerated intrathoracic mesenterioaxial volvulus of the distal portion of the stomach and the duodenum. The complete laparoscopic approach was used to repair the volvulus. The laparoscopic procedures involved the repair of the hiatal hernia using polytetrafluoroethylene mesh and Toupet fundoplication. This case highlights the feasibility and effectiveness of the laparoscopic procedure, and laparoscopic repair of the hiatal defect using a polytetrafluoroethylene mesh associated with Toupet fundoplication may be useful for preventing postoperative recurrence of hiatal her-nia, volvulus, and gastroesophageal reflux.

Modified laparoscopic Sugarbaker repair of parastomal hernia with a three-point anchoring technique

AIMTo retrospectively evaluate the safety and feasibility of a new modified laparoscopic Sugarbaker repair in patients with parastomal hernias.METHODSA retrospective study was performed to analyze eight patients who underwent parastomal hernia repair between June 2016 and January 2018. All of these patients received modified laparoscopic Sugarbakerhernia repair treatment. This modifed technique included an innovative three-point anchoring and complete su-turing technique to fix the mesh. All procedures were performed by a skilled hernia surgeon. Demographic data and perioperative outcomes were collected to eva-luate the safety and effcacy of this modifed technique.RESULTSOf these eight patients, two had concomitant incisional hernias. All the hernias were repaired by the modifed laparoscopic Sugarbaker technique with no conversion to laparotomy. Three patients had in-situ reconstruc-tion of intestinal stoma. The median mesh size was 300 cm2, and the mean operative time was 205.6 min. The mean postoperative hospitalization time was 10.4 d, with a median pain score of 1 （visual analog scale method） at postoperative day 1. Two patientsdeveloped postoperative complications. One patient had a pocket of effusion surrounding the biologic mesh, and one patient experienced an infection around the reconstructed stoma. Both patients recovered after conservative management. There was no recurrence during the follow-up period （6-22 mo, average 13 mo）.CONCLUSIONThe modifed laparoscopic Sugarbaker repair could fx the mesh reliably with mild postoperative pain and a low recurrence rate. The technique is safe and feasible for parastomal hernias.

Cost effective use of mosquito net mesh in inguinal hernia repair

Mesh hernia repair is one of the commonest open techniques of inguinal hernia repair.The main limiting factor in the use of new meshes is the cost.We carried out a prospective randomized double blind study and comprising of a hundred patients with 100 inguinal hernias admitted consecutively for elective surgery,divided into the polypropylene mesh(PPM)group and the mosquito net mesh(MNM)group each containing fifty patients.All cases were completed successfully and results revealed no difference in two groups.The results of the present study,in consistent with the published literature,reveal that the cheap indigenous mosquito mesh,which has similar properties of an imported mesh,can be safely used for tension-free inguinal hernia repair in adults.Further trials with a larger number of patients and longer follow-ups are justified and recommended.

Modified rives-stoppa repair for abdominal incisional hernias

Incisional hernias are a prevalent problem in abdominal surgery and occur in 11% of patients who undergo laparotomy. Primary suture clo-sure of incisional hernias results in a 31%-58% chance of recurrence. The addition of a pros-thetic mesh implant decreases recurrence rates to 8%-10%. Popularized in Europe by Rives and Stoppa, the sublay technique has proven to be very effective, with low recurrence rates (0%-23%) and minimal complications. The pur-pose of the study was to evaluate the experi-ence of a single surgeon at a large tertiary care center performing a modified Rives-Stoppa re-pair for abdominal incisional hernias. To do this, the records of all patients undergoing a modi-fied Rives-Stoppa incisional hernia repair be-tween January 2000 and August 2003 were ret-rospectively reviewed. Outpatient clinic notes, discharge summaries, operative reports, and laboratory data were reviewed for patient demographics, surgical data and postoperative complications. Univariate analysis was per-formed in order to identify predictors for recur-rence. During the study period, 83 patients un-derwent a modified Rives-Stoppa incisional hernia repair. Nineteen patients were excluded due to incomplete medical records. No patients required postoperative exploration for an in-tra-abdominal catastrophe. Twenty-five percent (n=16) of patients had a complication as a result of the hernia repair. Only two patients (3.1%) developed recurrent incisional hernias. History of diabetes (p=0.007) and benign prostatic hy-perplasia (p=0.000) were the only significant predictors for recurrence. The results presented here confirm that the modified Rives-Stoppa retromuscular repair is an effective method for the repair of incisional hernias. The complica-tion and recurrence rates compare favorably to results for currently popular alternative tech-niques.