Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair in Patients with Child C Cirrhosis: Our Experience

Abstract

Cirrhosis with refractory ascites was considered acontraindication to laparoscopic surgery,1 until recently.However, current literature has shown the efficacy and safetyof various laparoscopic procedures in the diagnosis andmanagement of surgical conditions in cirrhotic patients. Theincidence of ventral hernias in cirrhotic patients with tense ascitesis high. It is well known that open hernia repair in patients withascites is associated with high morbidity and mortality due toascitic leak from wound site, wound infection and high recurrencerate.2,3 In view of high complication rate for surgical repair inthese patients most surgeons defer elective repair of hernias inthese patients. But, left alone ventral hernias in such patientsmay undergo complications, such as rupture, obstruction,strangulation, which are life-threatening. Hence, elective surgicalrepair of ventral hernias in these patients should be considered.Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in these patients helps toovercome the complications and allows earlier recovery. Therehave been very few studies to evaluate the efficacy oflaparoscopic ventral hernia repair in patients with child Acirrhosis. However, there is no literature on efficacy of thisprocedure in child C cirrhotic patients. This is a retrospectivestudy to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic repair using adual mesh in child C cirrhotic patients with tense ascites andcomplicated ventral hernias.